Yarnivore

April 1, 2024: Local Yarn Shop Day April 27, 2024

What, you ask, is Local Yarn Store Day (LYS)? It's a day to celebrate everything yarn! Sponsored by TNNA (The National NeedleArts Association, a US-based nonprofit), this celebration occurs annually on the last Saturday of April. Most yarn stores and other fiber events have special events on LYS Day, like trunk shows, yarn tastings, and more!

Y'all know why local stores are important to the fiber community, but we also think of LYS Day as a way to thank y'all for supporting us and the other small businesses we do business with. This year, we're planning all kinds of fun, including yarn tastings, skill demonstrations, and prizes. San Antonio dyer Bad Frog Yarn will also be at Yarnivore, showing off her newest colorways.

We hope you can join us on LYS Day!

March 11, 2024: Reflection - Overflowing Brain Syndrome: We Have the Antidote!

Take a break when your brain runneth over!

Imagine, if you will: it's the middle of the day and you need a break. Even if you feel good about the way you're spending your day, your poor brain can't absorb one more iota of information (aka, the teeny tiniest amount). In other words, you've reached your brain's capacity for paying attention.

There's a Zen koan (story) that's a good analogy for your poor brain and it's attention capacity. The analogy is about a teacher pouring a cup of tea for their visitor. The teacher pours the tea until the cup overflows. When the visitor protests, the teacher compares the cup of tea to the visitor's mind: How can they receive more when their mind is full? This story is a good reminder that we need to empty our brain occasionally. We all know how to empty a cup, but how do you empty your brain and renew your attention?

Psychologists have a theory about restoring our capacity for attention; it indicates that attention restoration activities are important to our mood, our energy levels, and our productivity. This seems like common sense, right? In plain language, we need a break every now and then to help us focus on whatever's next. Attention restoration can be achieved in a number of ways, including creative outlets. Who knew?? (We did, of course!) There's a reason so many people craft. While learning a craft can be stressful, practicing our crafts often results in a state of flow, or immersion in an activity. This flow is how we empty our brain, so that we're ready for our next task.

Take a break, find your flow!

March 4, 2024: Cotton, How Do We Love Thee?

Let Us Count the Ways, with thanks to Elizabeth Barrett Browning

This week, we're sharing some characteristics of cotton yarn. Because of nearly-year round warm south Texas temps, we work with a lot of plant fibers, particularly cotton; cotton yarn comes in a variety of quality, price, and colors. Below are some of the reasons we love cotton!

Did you know that cotton fibers can hold water 24-27 times their own weight? Cotton is durable and its hollow fibers are highly absorbent, which means that cotton is a good choice for towels and washcloths, whether crocheted, knitted, or woven. When we're making homewares, we tend to be price sensitive and you may hear the term "utility" to describe some cottons. Utility cottons are lower priced yarns, making them economical for larger projects. Yarnivore carries Queensland Coastal Cotton and Universal Yarn Cotton Supreme Waves; both are utility cotton yarns that are good choices for towels and even blankets.

Cotton is soft and cool to the touch, making it a comfortable fiber to have close to your skin, which is excellent for garments. Cotton has great drape and can have a lovely sheen; there are a lot of gorgeous cotton yarns that are both comfortable and colorful. Any cotton yarn can be used to make garments, but stitchers often splurge on higher quality yarn, like Berroco Bozzolo (see Featured Yarn, below).

No fiber is perfect, though. While it is moderately strong and durable, cotton has very low elasticity. This low elasticity means that, unlike wool, cotton doesn't return to its original form once it's stretched. (If you've ever made a sweater from cotton yarn, you know what we mean!) When you're using cotton yarn in a garment, be sure to allow for it to stretch over time (thanks, gravity!). Many patterns written for cotton yarn will already account for this. You can tell what fiber the designer intended by looking at the suggested materials. If the pattern suggests wool or manmade fibers and you want to use cotton, you may want to adapt the pattern. For example, if your pattern has long sleeves, then you will want to shorten them. Over time, they will stretch! (Note that, as cotton garments stretch, they will also narrow. Make sure the width of your stretched garment will still fit the wearer.)

If you're worried about elasticity, you can still love working with cotton, because it's often blended with other fibers, like wool, nylon or acrylic, to compensate for its poor elasticity. Manufacturers do this to give stitchers the best of both worlds: a wool/cotton blend will feel cool and soft (like cotton) and have elasticity (like wool). Cascade Cantata, Berroco Spree and Madeline Tosh Wool + Cotton are good examples of cotton/wool blends.

Cotton, we love wrapping up in your comfort!

-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

February 26, 2024: Sampling Isn't Just for DJs!

Samplers Make Us Better Stitchers

Greetings! Many of you know what samplers are in your preferred craft. For those who don't, the word "sampler" indicates a way of trying new stitch patterns ("stitches") and often describes a single project with a variety of stitches. The joy of these projects is that you can choose your yarn/thread, needle/hook or canvas size. Samplers are meant to be a fun way to explore.

If you're curious about different stitches or feel like challenging yourself, where do you start? There are a variety of patterns, kits, or stitch dictionaries that can get you started. For knitters & crocheters who use Ravelry, search for "Sampler" and then filter for the size yarn you want to use. There are also many sampler patterns on manufacturers' websites, like Plymouth's F989 Sampler Afghan (knit) in two sizes (using Encore worsted [#4] or similar yarn) or Cascade's chunky (#5) Sampler Scarf (crochet) (the previous links all lead to free patterns!). Cross stitchers can try the Folk Art Sampler, Gardenside Sampler & Tree, or Animal Magic Birth Sampler kits.

Stitch dictionaries provide additional inspiration for all kinds of crafters. These books demonstrate a variety of stitches; you pick the ones you like. We recommend the Embroidery Stitch Guide, Stitches to Go, Tunisian Crochet Stitch Guide, or any of the four different A Treasury of Knitting Patterns books. Many stitch dictionaries come in digital form too, like Sarah Hazell's Crochet Stitch Dictionary, Wendy Bernard's Ultimate All-Around Stitch Dictionary, or Susan Sturgeon Roberts' Needlepoint Dictionary of Stitches, (all Kindle; Yarnivore is an Amazon affiliate and receives a small fee on these links). Finally, you can find lots of inspiration on the interwebs, including BHooked.com's step-by-step tutorials for both crochet and knit (search for either "crochet tutorial" or "knit tutorial") or Poppy Monk's needlepoint tips.

If you need help choosing stitches or projects, come see us!
-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

February 19, 2024: Easy as 1-2-3, Know Your Weight!

Today, we're talking about yarn specifications (specs). Patterns usually specify a yarn or yarn weight. However, crafters often substitute for a named yarn, so it helps to understand yarn specs. If crafters substitute a yarn that isn't the same weight or has the same characteristics, they may get a different result than they intended. To help y'all plan your projects, this week we'll review yarn weights and resources.

The US-based Craft Yarn Council publishes the Standard Yarn Weight System. Yarn weights have both a number and a name and are determined by gauge (stitches or rows/inch); standard weights start with 0 (Lace) and increase to 7 (Jumbo).
Images of Yarn Weights, from 0 (lace) to 7 (jumbo); Source: Craft Yarn Council Source: Craft Yarn Council

We should note that, while there are standards for yarn weights, some patterns may specify a yarn that isn't included in the Craft Yarn Council's list. "Aran" is a common example of this; crafters would probably see this yarn weight in a pattern from the UK (United Kingdom). In the US, we would call an Aran yarn a heavy Worsted (#4) or light Bulky (#5). The UK uses other terms that US crafters wouldn't see often, such as 8-ply for #3 (DK) or 4-ply for #4 (Worsted).

When you're in Yarnivore, you'll notice that we have signs directing crafters to the right area (e.g., as you enter, the left wall is #4 or Worsted) and we specify the yarn weight on the shelf tag. If you have any questions about whether the yarn you like is an appropriate substitution, ask us!

We'll cover other technical specs in future newsletters, so stay tuned.
-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

February 12, 2024: Monthly Reflection - Unconditional Kindness and Crafting

Love me, Love my work! This month's reflection.

picture of a red heart (made from yarn) on top of a white ball of yarn, set against a pink background.With Valentine’s Day arriving, it’s time for a little love! Valentine's has a reputation for being a couples thing; this week, however, we want to celebrate love in the form of unconditional kindness to yourself. How many times have you gotten frustrated for making a mistake? Weekly? Daily? Hourly? You've stopped counting????? We laugh, but it’s common for handcrafters to believe they should make perfect projects and to get frustrated when they're not. If we step back, though, we realize perfection's not only unrealistic, it’s kind of an oxymoron - things made by hand are often celebrated for their unique elements, many of which started out as mistakes.

So, as you look at your work, we encourage you to love your handiwork unconditionally, mistakes and all, and be kind to yourself. Kindness is honest (a mistake is still a mistake) but forgiving. Your work is beautiful, mistakes and all, and you're fabulous for continuing to practice your craft! This unconditional kindness helps you bounce back from mistakes and learn new skills, and learning new skills is one reason many of us love crafting.

Wishing y’all a little kindness this (and every) week!
-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

February 5, 2024: Show Us the Yarn!

What is a trunk show?

Local yarn shops (LYS) can only offer so many brands and types of yarn - unfortunately, we just don’t have enough space for all the lovelies from every dyer or maker. So, when a LYS gets a chance to see more yarn from, say, an indie dyer, we all get really, really excited. We have a phrase for this excitement: TRUNK SHOW!!!! Besides seeing more of the dyer’s yarn, y'all get to talk to them about their inspirations, their color ideas, and their process. Their excitement is contagious and y'all get to see more colors than we can normally carry…what’s not to love? Our next trunk show is Kristen from Bad Frog Yarn. This San Antonio dyer is relatively new to the market and she’s been adding a bunch of fun colors to her line. Come see her on Saturday, February 10, 2024, 11a-4p.

We can't forget how important y'all are to trunk shows, so we want to share our gratitude. Every time you attend a trunk show, you’re supporting small business owners. Your enthusiasm and purchases give the dyers inspiration to keep creating. We’re so proud of Texas dyers and have witnessed many of them blossom into notable names in the US yarn community. Y'all have been a huge part of their success and the dyers and the Yarnivore crew are thankful for your support.

-Caryn and the Yarnivore crew

January 15, 2024: The Benefits of Handcrafting

Greetings! January is often a time for reflections and resolutions. Throughout 2024, we're going to reflect on our crafts and how they influence our lives.

Why do we craft, crochet, cross stitch, knit, needlepoint, spin, weave? Each of us has a different reason and many of our reasons are supported by science. First, playing with fiber (or any other medium) inspires creativity, which requires physical and mental challenges. Overcoming these challenges improves our cognitive capacity (brain power!), which contributes to childhood development and can delay mental decline in later life.

Crafting also lowers stress hormones as you find your stitching flow. Many of you might call this "mindless" crafting, but it's beneficial to your well-being (more on why in a future issue). Since many of you craft in groups at Yarnivore or elsewhere, you'll understand that crafting is a social activity. This socialization contributes to a sense of well-being and improved life satisfaction.

So, the next time someone asks why you craft, you can answer with a little bit of science.

-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

January 29, 2024: Fiber Fests, 2024 Edition!

See all the indie dyed yarn!

A new year brings another round of fiber festivals! If you’ve been to a fiber fest, like DFW or Yellow Rose, then you’ve experienced all the joy of seeing independent yarn dyers and their lovelies (aka indies, indie yarn) and seeing everyone wear their fabulous creations. The Yellow Rose is a notable south Texas event and their Yellow Rose on the Coast show is this weekend, February 2-3 from 10a-5p, in Port Aransas. This is the fifth annual On the Coast event; Yellow Rose will also host the 14th annual Fiber Fiesta April 26-27th in Seguin.

Later this year, there will be more fiber fests in Texas. DFW Fiber Fest is in late September and the Texas Fleece & Fiber Festival is in late October. If you can manage to attend one of these events, make sure to wear comfortable shoes and be ready for some walking or rolling. We encourage y’all to get out and mingle with indie dyers and other crafters!

January 22, 2024 Woolly Propagation: The Crocheted Coral Reef is Still Growing!

The Crochet Coral Reef is a global creation to highlight climate change and inspire hope. Organized and run by the Wertheim sisters, this fiber-art project uses math and evolutionary theory to create a stunning variety of coral structures. Many of you will recall when the Crochet Coral Reef exhibit visited the Southwest School of Art in 2015.This is the only satellite reef that appears to have been Texan made. Guess what? It’s still going strong and we’re in love with all of the fabulous versions! While there is a Core Collection that travels the globe, there are also satellite reefs, such as the one currently showing at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, PA.

While there isn’t a local reef exhibit for us Texans, you can still make your own mini reef using patterns like the Crochet Hyperbolic Coral ($2.50 on Rav or free at GoldenLucyCrafts). Want to get all science-y? Check out Michele Lock’s 2005 Interweave Crochet article Taking Crochet to a Higher Plane, which includes a pattern and explanation for why crochet is best for creating coral shapes. Both of these patterns are based on Dr. Daina Taimina, a mathematics researcher at Cornell. If you really want to dive into the art and science of reef making, check out the Art + Science Overview.

Whether you love the science of hyperbolic crochet or just love making gorgeous colorful things, we think crocheting reefs sounds like a great way to express yourself! As the patterns above note, you can use any weight yarn and hook size. We encourage you to play with form and color.

We can't wait to see what you make!

-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

March 25, 2024: Tech Talk: Choosing a Tapestry Needle Part II (needlepoint & cross stitch ...

Decisions, Decisions, and More Decisions!
Choosing the right tapestry needle, Part II.

Last week, we talked about styles of tapestry needles, including their material and shape. This week, we're going to cover tapestry needle sizing for needlepoint and cross stitch. Unlike tapestry (yarn, wool) needles used for crocheting and knitting, needles used for cross stitch and needlepoint rely on a numbering system that corresponds to the canvas or fabric you're using. This makes it a wee bit more complicated, but we've got tips to help simplify your decision.

First, needles come in a range of sizes, from size 13 to 28. Needle sizing can be confusing because the larger the number, the smaller the needle. This means a #16 needle is larger than a #20. The same relationship goes for canvas mesh and cross stitch fabric: the smaller the number, the larger the holes in the mesh. Both needles and mesh numbers work this way because they correspond to the number of stitches per inch. It makes sense that 16 count (ct) mesh has bigger holes than 18 ct because there are more holes per inch in 18 ct!

The most important thing about choosing a needle is to make sure it passes easily through the hole in your canvas or mesh. If the needle is too large, it will distort the canvas. If it is too small, it can damage your thread. Below is a guide for choosing your needle based on the mesh or fabric (Aida) size.

Needle Sizing for Needlepoint and Cross Stitch
If Mesh/Count is:	OR if Aida Count is:	Then Needle Size is:
3-5		13
7-8		14-16
10	6	18
12-14	8	20
16-20	11	22
22-24	14-16	24-26
26-28	16-18	26-28

Source: The Needlepoint Book: New, Revised, and Updated Third Edition; Gathered.How
Image from John James Needle Guide.

We wish you happy stitching!

-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff

March 18, 2024: Tech Talk: Choosing a Tapestry Needle, Part I

A tapestry needle is a short needle with a long eye and blunt point (thanks, Merriam-Webster!). For crocheters and knitters, you may also hear the terms yarn needle or wool needle; manufacturers often use these terms (e.g., Clover, Knitter's Pride) for tapestry needles that are designed for working with yarn (i.e., crochet, knit) and not thread (i.e., cross stitch, needlepoint).

Choosing a tapestry needle is relatively simple when crocheting or knitting. For needlepointers and cross stitchers, however, it's a little more complicated because it depends on the canvas or fabric you're using. We'll get into the numerical fun of needlepoint and cross stitch needles next week. Today, let's talk about a few other features, like material and shape.

Tapestry needles can be made from plastic or metal (usually steel or aluminum). Plastic is a better gripper than metal but metal is more durable. You can find straight and bent tip styles; bent tip needles can make it easier to weave in ends, seam a project, or attach motifs (e.g., granny squares). Whether plastic or metal, straight or bent, these needles have relatively blunt tips when compared to sharps, darning, or embroidery needles. (See the John James Needles Guide for more information on different types of needles.) A blunt tip is safer for your yarn, canvas or fabric, because it is more likely to pass between the yarn or threads in your project, rather than piercing or splitting them.

Next week, we'll talk about needle sizes for cross stitch and needlepoint. Until then, enjoy the cool weather while it lasts!

-Caryn and the Yarnivore staff
March 18, 2024

Wendy's Basic Hat Pattern!

This is such a great basic beanie and we'd like to offer it to you for FREE! This is the beanie pattern Wendy uses for teaching people to knit in the round. It has sizes to fit every head, from babies to grandparents. Simple and classic!

Click here for the pdf pattern!

ONLINE Private Lessons!

Private Lessons are now available ONLINE!

Here's what you need to know (you can also open this as a PDF file):

Welcome to Wendy’s Knitting & Crochet Lessons Online Edition!!

Tech (what you need to participate in an online lesson with Wendy):

You’ll need to have a gmail address. If you don’t already have one, here’s where to go to set that up: https://www.google.com/gmail/about/. Follow the procedure from the ‘Create an Account’ button.

When you’ve got your gmail address, login to Google Hangouts (https://hangouts.google.com/) -- that’s where we’re going to meet. It’s very easy to use. Here’s an Intro to how to do so: https://www.wikihow.com/Use-Google-Hangouts (there are many other how-tos out there if you’d like more info).

You’ll also need:

A webcam and microphone - this could be a smartphone, an ipad or tablet, a laptop (if you can Skype or Facetime on it, it will work great!)
Something to prop it up with. If you’re using a laptop, maybe put it on a desk or table. You may already have a stand for your tablet or phone, but it’s okay to prop it up with materials from around the house. This stand made from a piece of cardboard box works well: https://lifehacker.com/make-a-super-quick-phone-or-tablet-stand-out-of-cardboa-1512059509
Try to make sure you have your pattern, yarn, needle(s), and anything else you’ll need close at hand.

Scheduling & Payment

Once you’re set up to join in an online lesson, let’s get you scheduled. Wendy’s hours for online lessons are Tuesday-Friday with 3 time slots: 3 p.m., 4:15 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. These will be listed on the Yarnivore Calendar. Choose the time you want and it will open a page that will show you the days available. Choose your day and click “add to cart” and finish the checkout process. If the time slot you want shows "add to waitlist" instead of "add to cart" then someone has already claimed that time.

Once you checkout, please email Meredith (Wendy’s helper) at knittingschool7648@gmail.com. She’ll get in touch with you to confirm your gmail address.

If You Can’t Make Your Appointment

If you find out the day of the appointment that you’re going to be late by more than a few minutes or need to reschedule, please text Wendy directly on the Hangouts app. We will not be able to refund same day cancellations. If you with to schedule a new appointment, please return to the Calendar and sign up again.

If you find out a day or more before your appointment that you need to reschedule, please email or text Wendy at wendy.yarnivore@gmail.com. Time slots may fill up fast, so we’d like to know that you can’t make it and make those times available for others.

Winding Yarn at Home, an Essay in Pictures

N-95 Mask Covers

One of our Yarnivore customers, a San Antonio physician, has asked us for help making and collecting covers to extend the life of the N-95 masks and protect the lives of medical staff working on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis. If you sew at all, please consider making some (or many?) of these covers to help out!

Here is the link to the letter she sent us, and here is a link to the pattern itself. Please note that what we need is the ADULT MALE size.

Please share this far and wide, both here in San Antonio, and in other communities!

Thank you so much! We know how awesome you all are, and that Yarnivores who sew will totally step up to the plate!

Free Preemie Octopus Pattern

Here's the cute FREE Preemie Octopus pattern that was in the San Antonio Express-News.

Click the link below to download:

download now

The elves are busy!

The elves are busy!
November 5, 2019
Greetings everyone! It's that time of year when it gets a little cooler and we're all working on gifts, like scarves, hats, and socks. Keep an eye on our social media (YarnivoreSA on FB, Insta, and Twitter) for quick-gift ideas.

Also, we're madly wrapping up our wholesale purchasing so that we're ready with gifty fiber ideas. This fall, we've become obsessed with kits that make it easy for new fiber fanatics, like Black Sheep Good's DIY Tapestry Loom, Harrisville Design's Friendly Loom, Beadsmith's Kumihimo starter kits, Strung by Shawna string art kits...want us to go on? We're also stocking (stocking, get it? :D) up on splurge-worthy items like Laura Hand Knit's handmade stitch markers (octagons!), Pretty Warm Designs stitch markers, yarn bowls, mugs, cards, prints, & tees. Drop in over Thanksgiving week and check out our ready-to-go stocking stuffers, too!

Like last year, we'll have complementary gift bags and tissue paper on hand to make your purchase ready for the recipient.