Above is a knitted swatch in stockinette with a garter stitch border. This is the "standard" stockinette swatch format because the garter stitch border eliminates rolling. The swatch measures about 9 inches across. It has been soaked and blocked lightly. This is the only way you can get true gauge.

Each pattern is different. Look at the gauge notes on the pattern you are working and it will tell you not only the gauge you are trying to get but also what pattern you are supposed to work the gauge swatch in to achieve the given gauge. 

Once your gauge swatch is knitted, soaked, blocked lightly and dry, then you get to measure. Ideally you should measure the number of stitches in both a 1-inch section and a 4-inch section. And measure it 3 times in 3 different places. You want to make sure that your knitting is consistent. You will measure the stitch gauge (left to right) rather than the row gauge (top to down). Most patterns today give you gauge for 4 inches of knitted fabric. 

Are you sick and tried of knitting scarves? I know how you feel. Scarves are wonderful projects, especially for beginning knitters but at some point to need to move on and try something different. Hats and baby items are a great next step project. You can learn to knit in the round, change colors, do lacework or fair isle. The possibilities are endless.

I knitted this Fair Isle hat for my son when he was a baby. I didn't check gauge and it ended up a hat for a child but I was so proud of my work that I didn't want him to wear it anyway. It is knitted out of Cotton Classic and not only can you hone your Fair Isle technique but you do a cool two color cast on and interesting braided ribbing.

Another one of my favorite project of all time is Shibui's Vintage Baby Cardigan pattern. Again I knitted this for my son (and I did let him wear this one). But I've also knitted this pattern as baby gifts. Easy, quick and fairly inexpensive, this cardigan will get you a lot of ohhhs and ahhhs at your next baby shower. 

Well now that the 31st is passed and the tax stuff is done, I can get around to the fun things in life. I always have a lot of projects going at once. It's just the type of knitter I am. I have 18 WIPs (works in progress) right now in my Ravelry notebook. Many of these projects are on the verge of being completed. Some just need a kitchner graft on the underarm while others need just a few days of good solid knitting to be called FINISHED! Others are in a holding pattern for reasons ranging from "I need to find where I put the other ball of yarn/needle/stitch markers/pattern" to "I've learned what I wanted to learn from this pattern - moving on!" We all have reasons for our UFOs (unfinished objects). Time, boredom, something shiny....

Lots of folks on Ravelry and in knitting cyberspace  talk about February for Finishing. 28 days - the shortest month of year - and the perfect opportunity to change yourself to do something. 

Join me cause February Is For Finishing! Starting on the 1st, I will try and finish as many WIPs as possible during the 28 days. This is not a contest - just a little motivation! But when you finish a project, post a photograph of it on our Facebook page and we will enter you into a drawing for a cool Yarn Mart prize.

Yes, I love 13 mesh canvas! I know this may seem like an odd statement but I hear a lot from customers and co-workers about the wonders of 18 mesh needlepoint canvas. In the world of canvas (for the non-needlepointer out there), 13 mesh means 13 holes per inch and 18 mesh means 18 holes per inch so 18 mesh is smaller than 13 mesh canvas. Anything 18 mesh or smaller is considered petit point. That's the very fine needlepoint that requires good light and good sight. Petit point is beautiful. The stitches "disappear" and you can't really see them so the design or artwork of the painted canvas shines. I agree that 18 mesh is wonderful but 13 mesh is so fast and I like to see the stitches. I like the hand craft to shine as much as the art of the canvas. So there - I've 

Ravelry.com is a wonderful, addictive, and helpful community for knitters and crocheters. Need a place to store information about your projects? Need a place to record your stash? Wanna find other knitters in your area? Wanna find other knitters who are as obsessed with Doctor Who, Jane Austen, Rowan Yarns, or fill in the blank of your favorite obsession? You can find all this and more on Ravelry.com.

At the shop, Ravelry.com is the single most valuable tool at our disposal. We can look up a pattern for a customer (and often sell it to them); we can search for a discontinued yarn and find out its yardage to help a customer pick out a "new" yarn; and we can stay on trend by searching the "Hot Right Now" section of the patterns page. 

So if you are not familiar with Ravelry.com, check it out. Welcome to your newest obsession! 

After 5 days without power and 3 busy days with our Year End/Inventory Reduction Sale, it's time to reflect on the year that is about to come to an end - 2012!!! I'm a huge fan of those countdown or reflection shows that seems to be everywhere in December and especially in the week between Christmas and New Year's. As guess it is the historian in me but I love to think back at the previous 12 months and how my life is different.

It has been a fabulous year for The Yarn Mart and for me personally. This time last year I knew that I wanted to make a change in my work life and Amy, Cindy, and I were working on a plan to keep The Yarn Mart open but very few people knew and I was scared to death that it would all fall through and a dream would die. But it didn't and the 3 of us made it happen. I have 2 great business partners and we all have strengths and weaknesses that balance each other quite nicely (if I do say so myself!) Plus I am very lucky to have a wonderful and supportive husband who encouraged me to follow my dream even through change is not his thing.

A very wise history professor I had at the University of North Texas once told me "find something you love to do and you will never work a day in your life." I would also add "find something that you can learn something new and challenges you on a regular basis and you will never tire of it." I love knitting and needlepoint but I also love retail - it just took 13 years to discover that. In retail, everyday is different and I love that energy. I work with an amazing group of women. Everyday I learn something knew about knitting, needlepoint, and/or life in general. We have a wonderful team and great customers who make coming to work a joy.

And 2013 promises to be even more exciting. More classes, more yarn bombing, more guest teachers, more yarn. I started 2012 with of things I wanted to accomplish at the shop and I've check them all off. Now 2013's list is made and I'm ready to get started. I look forward to a great New Year.

Love,
Heather
Managing Partner
The Yarn Mart, LLC