August 2001

What Colors Say about Us

Have you ever wondered why some people are drawn to one color, while others prefer a totally different palette? Why do we feel blue, roll out the red carpet for royalty, or get green with envy? Many theorists believe that colors offer a direct insight into

June 22, 2001

Potpourri

Kool Aid Colors: Quick, Fun Dyeing for Beginners

You don't need to wear a mask or use toxic chemicals to experiment with dyeing. Simply pick a few packets of any standard powdered drink mix and let your imagination run wild. Because the process is quick and safe, it's a great project for kids. It

June 15, 2001

Karabella Yarns Aurora 8

Whenever I visit yarn shops, I always ask the staff about their personal favorites. When the folks at San Francisco's Atelier Yarns and Little Rock's Handworks Gallery both raved about this yarn, I knew I had to review it. (Both stores are, alas, long gone.) A smooth yet lofty Italian

May 31, 2001

Yarns

1 Comment

Getting Started with DPNs in Four Easy Steps

Step 1: Casting On If possible, cast all your stitches onto one needle. You can put a tip protector or rubber band on the non-working end of the needle to keep stitches from falling off. The reason for this is simple: You want your cast-on stitches to

April 26, 2001

DPNs Explained

Many people are intimidated by the concept of using double-pointed needles, since it requires coordination of not two but four (and even five) separate needles. The truth is, once you get the hang of them, DPNs are extremely easy and useful tools. Why go for DPNs? Double-pointed

April 26, 2001

Tools

Circular Needles Explained

Circular needles aren't actually circular – they're made up of a long strand of nylon cord with two short needles attached at either end. Because each end has a pointed needle, you don't have to stop at the end of a row and turn your work

April 19, 2001

Tools

Mistake or Miracle? How to Felt

Remember when your favorite sweater got lost in a load of laundry, and the next time you saw it, it had shrunk into a miniature, blanket-textured doggy sweater? There's a name for this phenomenon: felting. And if you plan ahead, you can use the very

February 1, 2001

2 Comments

Dirty Work: How to Clean Your Handknits

The same instinct that tells you not to wash your hair with laundry detergent applies to yarn as well. Such harsh soaps can be murder on a garment you took great care (possibly at great expense) to create. So take heed. All protein fibers, from wool

January 25, 2001