There’s still time to sign up for classes in both stores!

Point Grey Classes:

If you’re thinking of learning to knit, you’re going to want to sign up for our Beginner Knitting Class with Deanna starting on April 12th. You’ll learn everything from casting on to casting off, and everything in between!

Have you ever needed to know how to crochet a border or an edge, but not you’ve not known how? Deanna will teach you everything you need to know about getting started with crochet. Beginner Crochet is a four week class starting on May 10th. A great book for reference with this class is the Happy Hooker, by Debbie Stoller!

Making Knitting Possible is a class that Astor has put together to help you get started and feel comfortable knitting. This class will be running for four weeks starting on May 6th. Astor is also going to be doing a knitting retreat on Bowen Island in May. For more information, you can visit her website and get in contact with her!

Our next Sock Boot Camp will take place on Wednesday April 14 from 6:30-9:30. In this 3 hour intensive class, Jackie will teach you everything you need to know about knitting a sock… and you’ll even have time to knit one – a mini sock that is! I’ve taken this class, and I highly recommend it!

Alexa will be teaching a great Skirt class this Spring, starting on April 2oth! You will learn how to knit a beautiful A-line skirt with a lovely lacy hem. This is a great class to take if you want to learn how to take measurements for a skirt that fits you just right!

If you’ve taken our Beginner knitting course and want to move on to something a bit more challenging, our Beyond Beginners Class is the one for you! Sandra will guide you through the process of your project, along with great tips, pointers, and new techniques. Our next Beyond Beginners class will start on Thursday April 22 and run for 4 weeks.

Erica is going to be teaching a great class on Amigurumi crocheted creatures starting on April 18th. If you haven’t heard of amigurumi before, or don’t know what it is, take a look here. This is sure to be a fun class!

Yarn 101 is a great workshop to familiarize yourself with Urban Yarns, the yarns we carry, and how to pick out yarns, needles and patterns. It’s a great informative class which takes place on the third Sunday of every month. Our next session is on April 18th.

Tunisian Style Crochet is a hybrid between knitting and crocheting. If you haven’t heard of it before, here’s your chance to learn! You’ll be working with a 19mm Tunisian style crochet hook and a variety of yarns of your choice. Once you’ve got the technique down, you can make all sorts of things like blankets, scarves, and pillows. Kalin, who will be teaching this class, taught me this technique in the fall, and have yet to put my crochet hook down! The date is to be announced, but if you’re interested, please give Kathleen a call at the Point Grey store.

Point Grey also has two Question and Answer sessions to chose from. Astor is here from 8:30-9:30am or 10:30-11:30am on Wednesdays, and Alexa will be available on Friday evenings from 5-6pm to answer all of your knitting questions. For either of these sessions we require that you sign up two days in advance.

Stitch and Bitch will continue on Friday nights from 6-9pm with Alexa. A great time to sit, relax, and knit with other follow knitters in the community!

Edgemont Classes:

Jess will be teaching two classes in April. On Tuesday April 13th, we’ll have a Sock Boot Camp from 6-9. And on Tuesday April 20th, she will be teaching Continental Knitting. This class is designed for people who know the basics of knitting, but want to learn another way of doing it!

Beyond Beginner Knitting will also be taking place in Edgemont with Sandra starting on Wednesday April 21st. A great class to follow the Beginners Knitting.

On Friday April 23rd, Erica will be starting the Beginner Crochet course. She will show you everything you need to know to get started on your first project. Again, a great book for reference with this class is the Happy Hooker, by Debbie Stoller!

And last but not least, Donna will be starting the Sahara class on Tuesday April 27th. If you haven’t seen Sahara, take a look here. This is going to be a really popular class!

If you don’t see what you’re looking for, let us know and we can customize a private lesson just for you! For more information, or to sign up, you can come in or call either store (Point Grey: 604-228-1122, Edgemont: 604-984-2214). Happy Learning!

Our Weekly Special this week at 40% off is Debbie Bliss Fez, a super soft camel/merino mix. Fez has great stitch definition which is perfect for the cabled Shoulder Cape below.

There are many charming hats in the world of knitting. I mean many. Like thousands. Hats are a great knitted staple with a few simple techniques for your basic hat and as many complicated techniques as you might like. These two hats are from the same pattern, the only difference is in the brim. The white one has a lovely lacy brim while the red has a slightly heartier looking garter brim.

Both hats are from the pattern Ripley by Ysolda Teague. Ysolda is a prolific designer with many beautiful patterns that have been knit thousands of times over. If you check her out on Ravelry you will see how popular her designs really are! All of her patterns are available as individual patterns and some are availble in her Whimsicle Little Knits books. I like that I have the choice to buy just one, or the set.

With these two hats it’s all in the details. The lacy hat has the obvious appeal of the lacy edging. Edging is knit first and flat and the rest of the hat is picked up from it. The same goes for the garter edged hat except that the hat part is picked up from a garter piece instead of lace. To get the nice slouchy fit (which is what I was going for) there are pleats in the back. This might sound scary but it’s actually really easy and there are clear instructions included in the pattern. These 3 pleats make sure that the hat fits snuggish in the front with that nice slouch in the back. The last bit of detailing is the swirly decreasing at the crown. This isn’t a particularly unique feature but I like it none the less.

I made these hats out of one of my favorite yarns. Blue Sky Alpacas worsted hand dyes are quite the special yarn. I’ve knit with it before but it is always a treat. It’s a 16 stitch gauge with a hearty spin to it and soft like butter! It’s also a hand dye so it’s got a subtle variegation that adds that little something special to any knit.

To make a Ripley hat of your very own you will need:

The pattern: Ripley

Yarn: 1 skein of BSA Worsted Hand Dyes (the pattern calls for 109ish yards for the 2nd and 3rd sizes which is more than one skein of the hand dyes but I eked it out with one skein)

Needles: 6mm needles, both a 16″ circular and double pointed needles

1 stitch marker

Enjoy!

–Alexa–

We’ve been receiving some lovely new items for Spring these past few weeks. The first one I thought I would show you is the lovely new yarn from Rowan. Purelife Revive is made from used garments. They select the used garments based on the silk, cotton, and viscose content, which is then regenerated into a beautiful yarn. If you’re in to cotton, linen, hemp, etc… this is a great yarn for you to try! Revive knits up to a 22 stitch gauge on a 4mm needle.

This new yarn from Katia is a really fun, and summery yarn. Paper is, well… made from 100% paper! It feels like a paper ribbon, or raffia. This would look great knit up into a Market Bag. Take a look here to see Kalin’s. She did her’s in Louet Euroflax, but Paper would be a good substitute!

The last yarn that I want to show you is one of the many Louisa Harding yarns that we recently received. Grace Wool and Silk is a silky soft yarn with a wonderful texture. Being 50% silk, it brings a sheen to this yarn which makes it seem more vibrant in colour.

Both Paper and Grace are only featured in Point Grey, but we can easily transfer them between the stores. We also received lots of new and exciting Rowan Books at both locations, so drop by for a visit! Our Weekly Special this week is K. Fassett Regia Sock yarn at 40 % off. Regular price is $9.95, our sale price is $5.97!

We will be open tomorrow (Good Friday) from 12 to 5, and back to regular hours after that. Happy Easter!

“So many people are affected by cancer, if not directly, then through our friends and family. It touches us no matter who we are, our age, gender, race or faith. I wanted to do something for the ones I love (and that’s a pretty inclusive everyone!). I hope others will help me with this goal.”

That was written by our very own Erica McLean who works in the Edgemont village location. It’s with her kind and caring personality that she wants to make a difference. How? By shaving her head with “Balding for Dollars” in support of children with cancer and blood disorders at the BC Children’s Hospital. The event will be taking place on May 8th.

Here’s Erica’s “before” photo with her lovely locks, and once the event is done, we’ll show you the “after” photo!

For more information and updates, you can visit Erica’s blog. And if you’d like to donate, you can just go to her donation site. Erica also let me know she’s willing to knit a beanie for anyone willing to join her in Balding for Dollars!

Great job Erica – we’re behind you all the way!

We promised you that more Shibui was on the way… well here it is! This time we received Baby Alpaca Dk, a super soft 100% Alpaca. This yarn knits up to a 22 stitch gauge on a 4mm needle.  Take a look at some of the colours we brought in…

We have tons of great patterns for both our Shibui yarns including the Boxy Pullover. This is a nice and warm sweater, with a cozy, loose fit.

The Baby Alpaca Dk is currently only at the Point Grey location, but will be delivered to Edgemont on Thursday.

This week’s special is Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton at 25% off. This is a fabulous cotton at a great price! I’ve personally knit with this yarn in the past, and absolutely love it! Pure cotton is an aran weight yarn knit on 5mm needles, and we have 14 great spring colours to choose from.

(random Zauberball picture. I am obsessed with this yarn. I made 2 pairs of socks already and I’m itching to start my 3rd!)

Two of the most common questions we get at UY are ‘what yarn should I use for this project’ and ‘are there any patterns that go with this yarn?’.  There are many answers to these questions and that is what we are here for at UY! There are so many yarns and patterns out there, it’s sometimes hard to know which one goes with which. Hopefully this post will get you started, especially is you are the kind of person who likes to do their own research.

There are a few different things to consider when subbing yarns.

1. Gauge: To me, this is the most important. If you are substituting yarns the first thing you want to look for is the gauge of the original yarn in the pattern. One of the most common mistakes people make is following the gauge on the pattern, not the yarn. This might not seem to make any sense but here’s why this is: sometimes patterns use needles that are much larger than the yarn would usually call for or much smaller.

If I were designing a lace pattern, for example, I might call for big needles and very fine yarn. This will give it a nice open and lacy look. Or perhaps my goal is a very dense fabric, then I would use small needles and thick yarn. The last example would give you a small gauge but really you would want a thick yarn. See the trouble? If you had checked the gauge on the yarn, you would see that you needed a thick yarn.

The other problem is that sometimes gauges are written ‘over pattern’. This means you are measuring over the pattern (maybe cables or lace), not in stockinette stitch. If you are getting 22 stitches per 4 inches over pattern, it might be more like 16 stitches per 4 inches over stockinette stitch. Because of all this we always check the gauge of the yarn, not the pattern. If it calls for a yarn that is 22 stitches per 4 inches in stockinette, that’s the yarn you will look for! Just to be sure, always check that the gauge is over 4 inches, not 1 or 2. Stay consistent.

2. Fiber: Different fibers have different qualities and will effect your knitting in different ways. You want to look at the fiber called for in the pattern and think about how your substitution will work.

Silk, for example, has a lot of drape. This is great for clothing items but it may not be what you want for a complicated lace pattern because silk won’t block into shape the way a wool or alpaca will. Different fibers are also warmer than others. While alpaca is delightfully soft it is also very warm, this might not work in a sweater for Vancouver weather (most of the time) but it would be lovely in a scarf or mittens. Fibers like mohair or angora have a nice halo which can be an important part of a pattern. Smooth yarns are sometimes more desirable for cables while fuzzy yarns add a little spice to stockinette stitch. There are lots of fibers to choose from, just keep in mind the different qualities of them when substituting.

3. Spin: The spin of a yarn is something to consider, especially when you are knitting a garment. Yarns with less spin to them are often quite soft but they can shed or pill more than others. That being said ALL YARN PILLS. This is a fact. A few have tried to tell me that it is the quality of the yarn or that Merino doesn’t pill, it’s not true. Some yarns certainly pill more than others but all yarns pill. This isn’t too big a deal in a hat (not a lot of friction putting it on and off the head) but you might want to steer clear of loosely spun yarn for a sweater (pilling in the under arm is the worst). For a sweater I would look for a yarn with a good tight spin to it, or don’t worry about it, pilling is a fact of life.

4. Washability: One thing you might want to ask yourself is how important washability is for you. All yarns can be hand washed but only some can be machine washed or dryed. I don’t mind doing a load of hand washing every so often, but I have a lot of knitted items. Be realistic but also remember how much time and effort you are putting into your knitting, it won’t kill you (or anyone you gift knitting to) to hand wash. That being said there are some very nice superwash wools out there these days, no need to go acrylic!

5. Alterations: Ask yourself whether or not you are will to make alterations to a pattern. If not, be more exacting with your substitutions. If the pattern calls for a 22 stitch gauge yarn and you are really grooving on a particular 18 stitch gauge, you have to be ready to do some math and make some changes. Only you can decide on this one!

It might seem like there is a lot to subbing yarn but really these are just a few tips and tricks. Knitting isn’t a science so don’t forget to be creative. Each knitted item is unique, partially because of the yarn substitutions you make. Enjoy!

–Alexa–

On Wednesday, we showed you Sahara in the moss green that Anina made. Here are a few of the other colour combinations that you could knit that top in…

Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple is a gorgeous yarn made from 100% silk. It’s subtle variation in colour really shows off the lovely sheen of this yarn.

Rock Star is a really fun, yet elegant yarn. With European glass beads throughout, it really catches the light nicely! Rock Star has the same composition as Pure and Simple, just with the added glitz of the glass beads.

One of the many projects that is in the Vogue Spring/Summer edition, is this beautiful lace flower scarf. It’s knit with two skeins of Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple on 4.5mm needles. Come by either store and pick up a copy of the magazine today!

Newsflash: Urban Yarns Edgemont Village location will be holding a “Sahara” class starting on Tuesday April 27th with Donna. Donna is an extremely accomplished knitter and a wonderful teacher who works in Edgemont on Saturdays . For more information on this class, please visit or call the Edgemont store at 604-984-2214. Sign up quickly, as this class is going to fill up fast!

On another note, we will be open tonight for Stitch and Bitch until 9pm. Alexa will not be here this evening, so be forewarned that any advanced questions (especially to do with her classes), will have to wait until next week. Kathleen will be hosting tonight, but not instructing.

If you love Shibui, make sure you read next Wednesday’s post!

Two skeins of Tilli Tomas Pure and Simple, and one skein of Tilli Tomas Rock Star went home with Anina one day… The next week, a masterpiece appeared in the store! “Sahara” was designed by Wendy Bernard for Stitch Diva Studios. This top has an exquisite and elegant fit. Along with being knit top-down, sizing tips are placed throughout the pattern to help achieve the custom fit that you want. And best yet… no seaming required! Bring on the cheers!

Stitch Diva patterns are extremely well laid out. Almost all of the patterns have pictures of project stitches that you will use in your pattern. In this pattern it shows you how to do a provisional cast on, and also shows you different increases that you’ll need to use.

The rich silks that are used for this top are so sumptuous against the skin. The accent embellishment of Rock Star on the neck-line, cuffs and hem really add to the elegant feeling that this top exudes.

Anina made the short-sleeved version, but the pattern also gives you the option to make it sleeveless, or with a long dramatic sleeve. This pattern also accommodates for all sizes, ranging from a 31″ to a 53″ bust.For more photos, take a look at Anina’s ravelry page. We’re hoping to have a Sahara class in North Vancouver soon, so be sure to check our class schedule in the next few weeks! Anina’s top is in the front window of our Point Grey store, and Donna’s blue version is now in the North Vancouver store. Drop by and take a look!

Another project that Anina has just completed is Smiley the Leprechaun. Very appropriate for St. Patrick’s Day today!

What a fun project! Smiley is made from Cascade 220. We have loads of great colours in stock! And for all the little bits of colour, come in a take a look at the “Small Balls” from Pick Up Sicks. Made of 100% worsted weight wool, each ball is 65 yards which makes them great for little projects like this one.  For more pictures, take  a look here.

There are so many things to love about knitting. I like to think of my various creations as wearable art. While this may seem a bit conceited, I think you should all think of your knitting the same way!

Even if two knitters have the same needles, yarn, and pattern, there are no two knitted items alike. Knitting is unique. Sometimes this drives people crazy, they often ask me why their knitting doesn’t look like the picture on the pattern, like their friends knitting, like my knitting, etc. There is no one answer to this questions. Knitters are as unique as their knitting, love it or hate it, it’s true.

Knitting is not only unique and practical (we do need knitwear, weather or not we need hand knitted garments is a debate for another day, I would obviously argue we do) but it is also beautiful. Knitting is art.

That was quite the lofty look at knitting….. perhaps there is a lighter side? Rest assured you don’t need to stew over the artistic integrity of your knitting at all times. Sometimes you need a comical knit! I once knit my brother an electric orange acrylic ribbed toque for his ‘Life Aquatic’ obsession. It makes me laugh every time I see it, he looks terrible in orange. Actually, anyone would look terrible in that particular shade of orange….Knitting ‘The Dude’ was also a little comical to me at least. I often see knits that make me laugh and the mustache cowl fits the bill. It’s even called Incognito, who could resist a chuckle? Who can resist poking a little fun at a mustachio? Especially one as hilarious as the ‘Buckaroo’!

I knit this little joy out of Louet Worsted for the main and contrast colours with the mustache done in a little Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes I had left over from a mitten project. The Louet Worsted is a machine washable yarn that has just come into the shop in some cute springy colours. I used a Robin Egg blue and Minty green. The mustache is done in a double stitch technique (NO FAIR ISLE!): for this I used a great tutorial I found here. I knit the medium size.

Here you can see the inside of the cowl. I knit the ‘tangy’ version of the cowl which has a nice little detail in the hint of green showing at the top and bottom. The double thickness at the top and bottom is nice as well, keeping everything cozy.

To make an Incognito of your own you will need:

2 skeins Louet worsted (1 main colour, 1 contrast colour)

A little yarn for the mustache

5mm 16″ circular needles

The pattern: free from Knitty

Enjoy!

–Alexa–