20% Off Thursday-Saturday!

It's a 3-day SALE event at VBYC! Save 20% on all purachases today through Saturday. Just in time for back-to-school knits and Christmas gifts. Have you been thinking about that new bag, a special shawl stick or accent? Hurry in!

Class: Fixing Mistakes. May 26th, 10:30am

"Fixing Mistakes".  Here it is folks!  You saw it here on the blog as well as in the newsletter.  The class is scheduled for TOMORROW, May 26 at 10:30am.  You'll learn how to identify and correct the most common errors all knitters make.  The hour or so you spend in this class will build your confidence and expertise for a lifetime of knitting.  Do take advantage of this class! 

Memorial Day, and Thank You!

YOUR local yarn shop, The Vermilion Bay Yarn Company, will be open on Monday, May 28 12noon until 6pm!  Take some time to relax on your day off and stop in at VBYC to find your next fabulous project!  I would like to thank you all for your support and continued patronage.  It is YOU, our friends and customers that make this fiber work oasis possible.  Without your passion for creating new and wonderful things, VBYC can not exist.  As with any small business, our customers are our shareholders, which means that your purchase stays right here to bring you more of what you love and helps maintain what we all enjoy every day.  Ours is a vibrant diverse community!  Thank you very much for making VBYC what it is.  A safe and peaceful Memorial Day to you all!   

Mini Course: Knitting Argyle

You can't go too far without realizing that color work is the trend.  Of course single-color garments are always in, but now more than ever, more and more design collections and pattern anthologies are offering a wide selection of multi-color options.  Argyles, stripes, paisleys, as well as traditional Scandinavian style fair isle designs.  Even though using a single yarn/color will create a beautiful and appealing garment,  a project that requires two or more colors will stretch your creativity and open up new vistas in your knitting.  There are various ways to achieve colored fabric.  The most basic method is simply to use a varigated yarn, in which lengths are dyed in sequence to create a marbled, random spread of colors throughout.  Jacquard patterns are typically created using a stranding technique called Fair Isle, for which yarns are carried or "floated" along the back of the fabric until they are needed.  Fabric that features large areas of contrasting color requires a specific technique called Intarsia.  Spaces more than 3-5 stitches wide increase the likelihood that floated strands will either cause the fabric to pucker or produce loose garlands of strands that will snag and add extra thickness to the piece. 





Butterflies hanging in order

Instead of carrying yarns along, Intarsia requires each area of color to have its own supply of yarn.  These mini yarn packages are what we call "butterflies".  Some knitters prefer to wind yarn onto intarsia bobbins -- containers that look like little spools or clips that hold yarn.  My caveat on bobbins: they're heavy and since they're heavy, they cause the yarn strands to swing around each other like pendulums and create a big tangled mess.  Also, the yarn doesn't always unspool smoothly.  As a result, you're spending less time knitting and more time untangling and unspooling.  Butterflies are light and the yarn travels from them as from a miniature central pull skeins.    You'll need one for each color area.  Here's how to make them: hold the end that will become the working yarn in your palm and anchor it in place with your thumb.  Start winding around your fingers.  If the color area is quite large, wind a good supply to avoid the frequency of yarn joins.  Snip the winding end of the butterfly, slip the wraps off your fingers and bind them with the snipped end. 



Twist Old and New Color

To attach the butterfly to your piece, simply hold the working end of the bundle up to your work, and start knitting, leaving a 6-8" tail that you will use to weave  the hole that will normally form at the attachment spot (more about that in a bit). The butterflies hang from the needles along the row in the exact order you'll need them.  The secret to keeping everything orderly is in not allowing the butterflies to hang down much more than 8" or so from the needles.  Too much yarn between the butterflies and the needle will encourage the strands to twist around other strands and cause a tangle.  Shorter lengths are harder to tangle.  As you work the row, pick up the strand you need according to your color pattern.  When you move from one color area to the next, it is vital that you establish a connection between stitches of different colors.  In knitting, each stitch is connected by the working yarn as you move from stitch to stitch.  With different colors/yarns, you are working with multiple working yarns and therefore you much establish a connection between them yourself.  Otherwise, there will be a hole in the fabric (like the area where you joined a new butterfly) that you'll have to weave closed later.  When you knit the last stitch of a color area, pick up the new color and twist the strand of new and old color so that they interlock.  Continue in the new color. The twist will connect the two color areas and give the illusion of one continuous working yarn. As you continue your color pattern, you will see the yarn wraps on the back of the fabric along the edges of the color areas. 

When hiding the tails in the place where a new butterfly/color was attached, you must NOT just tie a knot between two yarns.  Knotting the yarns here will pull the fabric and distort the stitches. With the tail in a yarn needle, you must actually weave in the ends to establish a connection between the color areas and close of up the hole.  Follow the progress of the yarn in the fabric and mimic how it would travel.  The sign of a good weaving/finishing job in Intarsia is a clean wrong side that shows a mirror image of the front with color areas neatly edged with yarn twists.  There should be no knots and no tails. 

An important note on undoing intarsia: Not one of us, not even one,  has escaped the curse of Eden unscathed.  Among a host of other reasons, sometimes we may misread the pattern or count wrong, resulting in a flaw in the pattern, which goes unnoticed (typically) until the stitch count is off several rows later.  DO NOT pull your work off the needles and just start ripping.  Since intarsia is a series of multiple working yarns twisted around each other, drastic frogging will do nothing more than tangle your work.  In order to undo this color work, you must unknit ("tink") each stitch back to the mistake.  Besides tangling the yarn, drastic ripping off the needles will cause the fabric to unravel in all directions, not just stitch by stitch.       

Intarsia knitting creates vibrant and extremely beautiful garments.  It does take a bit of practice to master the yarn twists and to maintain your tension at the joins.  As with most things, the only way to master it is to do it. And to be patient while you're at it.  The more practice you allow yourself, the more proficient you'll get.  Try adding some intarsia onto a hat or a small patch on a sweater, scarf or wrap.  Intarsia also allows you to create marvelous color blocking effects on garments.  Be creative!              















Sign up for Classes!

These next three scheduled classes are guaranteed to introduce you to new things and help build your tool box of useful techniques and knitting skills.  Tomorrow, May 19th, there's Knitting Socks to Size, in which you'll learn to make socks that fit perfectly.  Kristy will discuss with you the mysteries of gauge and the importance of the stitches-to-inches ratio.  She has an easy formula to determine the exact amount of stitches you'll need for a sock that fits like no other.  On May 26, a class that's useful for everyone, and especially for those who are still mastering the basics: Fixing Mistakes.  We all experience problems with our work from time to time, regardlesss whether we've just learned to knit, or whether we've been knitting for decades.  Bottom line: sometimes stitches slip away, sometimes we knit instead purl, sometimes a pattern just doesn't make sense, sometimes we turn a cable the wrong direction because we just couldn't believe what we were seeing on the last episode of Ghost Hunters, or sometimes the joke was so funny we forgot the yarnover.  All normal.  The key is understanding what happened to the knitting and how it can be fixed, and it always can be fixed.  Yes, it's always much easier to stop in at the shop to get help, but sometimes things happen where you're not easily in driving distance of the shop, or during times that your schedule doesn't permit a quick visit.  That's when it's important to be able to make minor fixes yourself, and this is class to learn how.  We'll experiment with a swatch of stockinette, making mistakes on purpose then address how to make repairs. It's the class where you learn how to "make it work".  Fixing Mistakes is the class that moves you on to more knitting independence and builds your confidence to tackle any project.  On the following weekend there's Introduction to Lace.  We've all admired the beauty of fabulous open work, and many of us simply dismiss ever making such things: "I'm only a beginner.  That's too hard for me."  I'm here to tell you: nothing is too hard for anyone.  Intro to Lace involves making a small lace project, a cotton washcloth in DK weight yarn on size 7 needles.  A small lace project on larger yarn that's finshable rather quickly.  We'll work with the basic lace operations: various decreases and increases to make a washcloth that's stunningly fabulous and really quite easy for knitters of all experience levels.  The perfect first-time lace project that will prove to you that you can make anything, and it doesn't matter how long you've been knitting!  

Knitting Socks to size: This Saturday, May 19, 10:30am!

Sock knitters: have you had trouble with socks that don't quite fit the foot you've made them for?  Here's your solution: the class coming up this Saturday, May 19th will solve all your problems.  Join Kristy Gondron at 10:30 Saturday morning as she shares with us a surefire method of making socks that fit well.  Kristy is an excellent knitter and a very patient and knowledgable teacher.    Everyone who enjoys knitting socks will benefit from this informative and practical class.  The class does not focus on any particular sock knitting technique, so you will be starting the pair of socks that fit using whatever technique you prefer.  Sign up this week for Knitting Socks to Size!   

A fabulous summertime project

As summertime begins we’re all in search of projects that fit the season, not only from a fashion standpoint, but also in terms of cooler fibers we can wear comfortably when the thermometer tips 100.  It’s high time for summer knitting now.  Instead of the cozy warm wools, llamas, and alpacas, it’s time to grab for the cottons, silks, linens, and sugarcane, lighter weight, cooler fabrics ideal for us here in South Louisiana.  Now  pair those with a carefree design — something both easy to make and easy to wear.  One project that has enjoyed great success by everyone who’s made it is what we call “Willie’s Linen Thing”.  It’s a smart summer shell that’s quick to make and does well in almost any kind of yarn.  Originally, I conceived this top for 100% linen  that you wet block to achieve an open fabric shell.  Since the pattern was first completed, many folks have made it using other fibers that don’t necessarily produce this open look, but which nonetheless are suitable for warm weather wear.  A relaxed fit with a comfortable Dolman sleeve and a simple rolled neckline are what add to this top’s timeless appeal: a simple, basic design that allows the yarn’s color and texture to speak for itself.  One afternoon, our friend Willie stopped by with a fashion dilemma.  She was attending an out-of-town wedding and had her ensemble in mind, along with accessories.  The only problem: no top that really made the outfit.  So we went to work,  pulling yarns of various fibers, and we settled on a fabulous shade of light grey linen with brown overtones to complete the look and highlight the awesome copper jewelry she had selected.  I put pen to paper and “Willie’s Linen Thing” was born.  The “Thing” is the sort of project that you can take with you on trips, work in the car, on the bus, or in the plane without having to be chained to the pattern for every row.  Set it down, and you can pick it up again without having to figure out where you are.  It’s the perfect summertime project.  Easy to make, easy to finish, and easy to wear.  Exactly the sort of project we like the best come summertime, when the livin’ is easy.  Stop in today and select your favorite summer yarns and get started on your new look! 

Wash Cloth Mania!

Need a simple project to "cleanse the palate" between larger ones? Need a quick, yet excellent gift for a baby shower, wedding shower, birthday party, or just a little sussy for someone special?  Wash cloths have taken off as the number 1 quick springtime project!  We have several clever patterns.  They're so quick and easy.  Each one takes 45-60 minutes to complete.  Make a set of 3 in one evening!  Rowan Handknit Cotton makes wash cloths of peerless softness and durability.  Plus, this outstanding 100% cotton yarn has such a comfortable hand and great stitch definition, you'll not want to use anything else to make them.  Each ball produces 2 wash cloths.  Colors?  VBYC has a super wide selection!  Make a friendly spring bouquet!  Knit more than you need and keep a stash handy for easy go-to gifts!  Stop in today get started! 

New from Cascade!!!!

More spring yarns in all this season's colors are scheduled to arrive today!  Among more fabulous colors of Heritage sock, varigated Fixation, we are happy to announce the return of Sierra, an awesome all purpose cotton blend yarn in worsted weight.  Sierra is ideal for anything from baby blankets to adult garments, and is also suited for more utilitarian projects like wash cloths and dish towels.  We welcome a new yarn to VBYC this season: Cherub Baby Aran, a tremendously soft aran weight baby yarn in cheery varigated colorways. 

Road Construction on Verot School Road

It's not news by now that Verot School Road is being resurfaced.  This is actually not a problem, and it's work that is long overdue.  Luckily this construction does not have to impact your access to the shopping center where we are located.  Here're the alternative routes to the shop via Digby:

From Kaliste Saloom, turn onto the Camillia extension toward Verot.  Turn right onto Blue Bird (the last street before the Verot intersection).  Keep straight on Blue Bird, then turn left onto Digby directly in front of Comeaux High School.  There is an entrance to the Bridge Plaza property from Digby. 

You may also turn onto Marshall from Kaliste Saloom and circle around Comeaux High School to Digby.

From Ambassador Caffery, turn at the light as if going to Lourdes Hospital. This road will bring you to Comeaux High School as well (you'll drive through the parking lot of the baseball diamond by the Comeaux Rec Center). 

We'll see you soon!