What To Do With Leftover Yarn
Anyone who knits or crochets will inevitably end up with small amounts of yarn leftover from projects. We all have that basket, box or bag full of little balls of yarn because we can’t throw them away, it is perfectly good yarn. But what do we do with them? So, dive...
Targhee Sheep and Yarn
Sheep. Those cute, soft, fluffy creatures immortalized in nursery rhymes: Mary had a Little Lamb, Little Bo Beep and Baa Baa Black Sheep. As knitters we know sheep produce the wool that yarn is made from and most of us can name a few breeds of sheep, such as Merino,...
Choosing Colors For Your Next Knitting Project
Knitting is about fiber, yarn, texture, and color. Working with colorful yarns can be exciting and yield a personalized garment, accessory or something for your home. How do you choose colors to be sure your end product is successful? It can be a gut decision (I love...
Merino Wool: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
Mention Merino yarn and knitters think about how soft and warm the wool is. We know Merino wool comes from sheep, but what else do we know? Merino is the oldest established sheep breed in the world and is also the most numerous. Their origin can be traced back to...
How to Make Wool Dryer Balls
Dryer balls are a good alternative to using dryer sheets, which contain potentially harmful chemicals. These chemicals, such as Dipalmethyl hydroxyethylmmoinum methosulfate, can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions. Fragrances added to the sheets can also...
Incomparable Buttons
Buttons are a wonderful, and often necessary, addition to clothing. As a knitter, I am always looking for those special buttons to finish off my project. A large button on a felted purse or knitted hat can really make a statement. A line of colorful buttons is a fun...
Swatching for gauge (it’s more than knitting a square)
Oh, the thrill of starting a new project! You have a new skein of yarn and have picked out a pattern that will be perfect. You are ready to cast on, right? Then you hear the little voice: “Did you get gauge?” What is gauge? Simply put, it is a measure of the...
Winter Knitting
After the Holiday Knitting rush, comes January. What do you knit in January? Something for yourself? Do you finish up WIP? Try a new skill? I usually don't have a plan. I sometimes pick up a project started in early fall. Or I may abandon a project I started in early...
The very versatile sock yarn
It is safe to say, my go to yarn is sock yarn for a variety of projects. The term sock yarn is used interchangeably with fingering weight yarn. According to the Standard Yarn Weight System (Craft Yarn Counsel), sock yarn is a superfine yarn and is listed as a 1 along...
Looking forward to (and getting ready for) 2021
Yarn & Fiber Drying on the Porch Looking forward to 2021 October 26, 2020 This year has been challenging for small businesses like Nightingale Fibers. We have seen all the fiber and wool festivals cancelled or go virtual in 2020. New Hampshire Sheep &...
