Multicraftual Maker Always Trying New Things!

Kove has worked with several Vancouver-based creative, cultural and educational non-profits. Before SweetGeorgia, they co-founded Bảo Vệ Collective, a group that empowered youth to help Vietnamese-Canadians navigate language barriers during the COVID-19 lockdowns. All the screen time dedicated to that project led Kove to pick up a tactile hobby – knitting!

A Quick Q&A with Kove

What’s your role at SweetGeorgia?

• I’m the video editor for the School of SweetGeorgia. I used to be on our production team, twisting and packaging Party of Fives. I dyed yarn for a few years after that. 

What fibre arts did you enjoy before joining us?

• Sewing, upcycling and alterations, mainly with used clothing and fabric. During the lockdowns, I fell into the Harry Styles x J.W. Anderson cardigan rabbit hole. The obsession took hold once I realized that swatches could become wearable. Of course, once you’re comfortable with knitting or crocheting, I feel like it’s inevitable that you try your hand at the other, and so it goes! 

Which fibre arts do you do now that you are here?

• SweetGeorgia gave me the opportunity to try natural dyeing, wheel and spindle spinning, and I’ve passed the shuttle back and forth on a rigid heddle and inkle loom, haha! What stuck was knit/crochet and needle felting, but I want a table loom for future projects. I’m also working on my mending and sashiko skills. 

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

• Capturing moments from my walks, travels or just around the house in various forms (photos/video/illustration/writing). Watching old movies. Creating playlists that tickle my brain. Reading. This summer I’ve been playing with paint and pencils again, and I’m itching to get back on a kayak!

Are there any tools, equipment, or accessories you’d recommend?

• I love anything that keeps us moving, so if it’s accessible to you, I’d recommend a walking pad or rebounder to use between rows or even as you knit or crochet. Many can be found on the used market. The metal, ergonomic KnitPro Nova Cubics help me (a tight knitter) loosen up and knit faster. 

Which is your favourite fibre or yarn?

• Our silk yarns were some of the most inspiring to me as a dyer. SweetGeorgia Mohair Silk Sock has a wonderful squishy-softness and soaks up the dye without losing brightness or variation.  

Fun fact:

• When I feel overwhelmed or tired, I do variations of Wim Hof breathing (sometimes on an acupressure mat). 

Places to Find Kove Thai

• Behind the lens of many of our School of SweetGeorgia videos!

Thank you, Kove. We are thankful for your great eye for beauty, filming, photographing and editing the videos for the school. We love being surrounded by your positive energy and for being so authentic always.

The post SweetGeorgia Team Spotlight: Kove Thai appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

THE COLOURWAY STORY

Imagine it’s September and we just aren’t ready to let go of summertime fun. So I’m thinking of dragon fruit and gelato, sunshine and banana leaves. Where does your imagination go when you think of making summer last a little bit longer?

For the Yarn Club, you might notice that the yarn is more flecked and not completely dyed through. This is simply because bamboo is a cellulose/plant fibre that does not absorb the dyes that we use for wool. So the colourway produces an interesting effect with the haze of bamboo fibre. This hazy effect can also be seen in the Fibre Club braids.

PROJECT IDEAS

For the Yarn

With a bamboo-based sock yarn, I decided to crank some socks, obviously. The sharp, contrasting colours in the handpainted skein produce a fun, organic stripe throughout the sock.

You can use this fingering-weight yarn for all kinds of projects including crochet or weaving. This blend would also make a lovely lightweight scarf. As with any handpainted yarn, we suggest alternating ends or holding multiple strands together if you want to mitigate pooling. Or go for the full planned pooling effect, if you want big patches of strong colour.

For the Fibre

Earlier this year, in the School of SweetGeorgia, we experimented with blending bast fibres like linen and hemp with wool as well as cellulose fibres like cotton with wool. In this month’s fibre, we’ve done the blending for you!

Handspun yarn from this fibre blend will look a bit hazy because of the undyed bamboo fibre. This handpainted fibre offers many opportunities for colour management in spinning — whether you want to chain-ply or barber pole, combo-spin or combo-ply, spin singles or spin 4-ply for socks. There is an option for every spinner.

If you need some guidance, we have a complete catalog of spinning courses at the School, taught by an experienced and engaged team of spinning instructors. If you’re not already a member, use the code BACKTOSCHOOL2026 to get 20% off an SOS membership before the end of September.

JOIN THE CLUB CONVERSATION

One of the fundamental beliefs we have at SweetGeorgia is that the colours we surround ourselves with can transform our experience of life. Whether you knit, crochet, weave, or something else, join us at our SweetGeorgia + Co community. We’d love to hear your thoughts on our Bird of Paradise colourway and see what you make with it.

Thank you for following along with us for our colourful Secret Stash Club adventure. We’ll see you next month!

The post Secret Stash Club Reveal: Bird of Paradise appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

THE BIRD OF PARADISE COLOURWAY

Our September 2026 Secret Stash Club colourway, Bird of Paradise, is our wish for summer to last just a little bit longer. Vivid magenta, deep amethyst, and warm golden peach twist together with flashes of rich teal and soft green, capturing the striking beauty of its namesake bloom. It’s a colourway that refuses to be quiet, perfect for projects that deserve a little drama and a lot of joy. Read more at the colour reveal post »

CRANKING THIS MONTH’S SAMPLE

With the bold colour repeats of the Bird of Paradise Club colourway, knitting socks on the circular sock machine felt like the perfect match. There’s something magical about watching the stripes unfold while hand-cranking each round on the CSM.

For this month’s sample, Felicia followed the same construction as her CSM Starter Socks pattern, which is included with her online course Circular Sock Knitting: Foundations, at the School of SweetGeorgia. Through the video lessons, she walks you through everything from setup and tools to creating cast-on bonnets and heel snakes, so whether you’re new to CSM knitting or looking to refine your technique, it’s a great place to start. Learn more about the course here »

JOIN THE CLUB

We look forward to sharing more project inspiration with colourways we’ve concocted as part of our Secret Stash Club. We love telling stories through our colours and sharing how we see the world, and we hope you’ll join us there!

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CSM Starter Socks in the Bird of Paradise Club Colourway

Crank your own colourful and fun socks with this easy circular sock machine pattern that is customizable to any size.

Craft Circular Sock Machine (CSM)

Maker Felicia Lo

Designer Felicia Lo

Skill Level Beginner

Equipment

• 1 Circular Sock Machine

Materials

• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Big Bamboo Sock in Bird of Paradise

Instructions

• Download the pattern/recipe from either the School of SweetGeorgia course or the online SweetGeorgia shop.
• Cast on with a Cast-On Bonnet and the cylinder size you have. Don't forget to add weights.
• Follow the instructions to hang the hem.
• Crank the leg to the desired length. Ensure that you move the weights as needed while knitting the sock.
• Use the recipe instructions to make a short row heel, moving unwanted needles out of the way.
• Crank the foot to the desired length.
• Follow the short row toe instructions, then remove the sock and graft the toe.
• Wet block the socks, let dry fully, and enjoy!

The post Secret Stash Club Knitting: CSM Starter Socks appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Before You Apply

When applying to be a test knitter, there are a few things to consider before signing up. Let’s go through the process. 

What is the Duration of the Test Knit? 

If the design is for a sweater, could you knit it by the date they need it done? How long did it take you to knit your last sweater? Depending on the project, it could take you weeks or even months to knit. Agreeing to knit this design could mean that you will have to set aside all other multicraftual making to give this project all of your crafting time, and then some. 

Would you be able to complete the process around your work, family, and other obligations, or would you be stretching yourself too thin? If you have a very busy life, you could wait until this pattern is published and make it on your own time. However, if you have the time and can meet the deadline, then it would be a good time to sign up. 

My Personal Experience 

I was a test knitter for a shawl and was given about five weeks to receive yarn and knit the shawl. I found it was more than enough time for me. A few years later, I was interested in another test knit, but I knew I would not be able to complete it, as I had too many other commitments, so I passed. 

I know the time needed for a three-skein shawl or sweater, but I could be given a year to knit socks and never finish them. So, based on previous projects, I determine whether the time period is enough for me to complete the project before I commit. 

Do You Have the Materials or Skills Needed?

If the pattern uses worsted-weight yarn and has an intricate cable design, would you have everything you need to begin right away? Do you have a cable needle, or do you know how to do it without one? Do you have the yarn needed in your stash? Some designers partner with yarn companies to use their yarn and may provide yarn support for the pattern testing at a discounted rate (or sometimes free). If you need to order yarn, you need to factor in shipping time, which could add pressure on the time you have to knit. If you already have yarn in your stash, you may be happy to use what you have.

What if the project is for a sock with an afterthought heel, or another technique you have never done before? You’ll need to communicate that to the designer. Can you learn it during the process? Maybe. Or possibly the designer is curious to see how knitters with no experience with the technique understand how to make the project using their instructions. Be open with the designer and let them know any concerns you have.

My Personal Experience

I find it easiest to participate if I already have all or most of the yarn in my stash. I try to find a main colour, then I can buy any additional colours if needed. Searching through my stash is the easiest way to allow me to sign up and cast on. 

Can You Communicate with the Designer on Their Chosen Platform?

If the designer wants to host the test knit on a space such as Discord, are you comfortable communicating there? As you go through the process, you will need to contact the designer if something doesn’t make sense or if you find an error in the pattern. You need to be able to clearly tell the designer what the issue is, so they can make changes on their end.

My Personal Experience

I find the method of communication key in being able to alert to problems. I find a Google Doc the easiest, as edits can be made in real time, but I’m also a gal who likes a good old email, so either works for me. 

How Are You Compensated for Your Time?

Then we come to a rather tricky area: compensation for the test knit. This can vary widely. Many designers will offer the complete, edited pattern after it is published, while some offer additional free patterns as compensation for the time put in. Another perk may be receiving yarn support in the form of a partial or a full discount. It really ranges from designer to designer. 

My Personal Experience

This is easy for me, because I would be purchasing the pattern regardless. With me (likely) having the yarn already in my stash, I am happy to use what I have for something I want to wear. Plus, as an added motivation, I must finish the project by the deadline, which, for my multicraftual self, helps me to the finish line.

What is Expected After the Knit?

So what are the expectations for after the project has been finished? Are you expected to post on social media or on spaces like Ravelry to show what size you made and the yarns you used in your process? Do you need to show the item on your body to show the ease you gave your garment? 

An important part of any test for a designer is getting the pattern displayed in various yarns, on a variety of bodies, and in the full range of sizes the pattern is offered in. Test knitters who use social media, Ravelry, or other platforms to share what they have made can help designers promote their pattern. A designer may ask in their application form if you use social media, and they may use that to choose their test knitter participants. 

My Personal Experience

While I’m not active on social media anymore, I do use Ravelry. I am happy to post there, choosing not to show my face, in case the image is used in other spaces for promotion. Personal choice, but that’s just me. I write as many notes as I can to help fellow knitters decide if the pattern and size are right for them.

Ok, Go! Be a Test Knitter!

If you have read all of the above and have the time, the skills, and the yarn (in stash or willing to purchase), then sign up for the test knit. I quite enjoy them. The community of testers can be a nice group to work with; learning and seeing how patterns change as others knit them is fascinating. Helping a designer bring their idea from their hands into the wider knitting world gives a sense of pride in being a part of the process. 

The post Want to Be a Test Knitter? Here are a Few Things to Consider appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

FROM TOUGH LOVE SOCK TO TRIFECTA DK

The original cowl was crocheted using fingering-weight yarn: 1 SweetGeorgia Party of Five Tough Love Sock mini-skein set plus 1 SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock skein. This combination allowed us to enjoy the rhythmic pattern in 6 shades for a fun, colourful accessory.

When it was time to make a new sample for Charlotte’s beloved Yona Cowl, we wanted to explore a version in SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK. This yarn base has become a favourite our team, featuring a soft hand and lovely shine with a blend of Bluefaced Leicester wool, mohair, and silk. We also love how different a colourway looks in this yarn compared to our easy-care lines such as SweetGeorgia Merino DK. We chose a rich, stunning shade from our Eclipse Collection: Gemini.

Crocheted in SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK, our new sample lets this yarn’s signature stitch definition shine. Worked flat as a long rectangle, from side to side, the two short ends are then seamed together to form a loop. The intricate wave stitch pattern opens up beautifully, allowing the tonal depth of Gemini to shift between deep plum and wine-dark tones across every repeat.

EXPLORE CROCHET AT THE SCHOOL

If you want to crochet this cowl but feel intimidated, Charlotte walks you through a swatch of it in her Crochet Increases & Decreases course. We also have online courses in the School that take you from the basics through to textures, amigurumi, and more. Visit the School of SweetGeorgia to explore our growing library.

Discover the courses and community of fibre arts makers at the School. Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

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Crochet Yona Cowl in SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK

Squishy soft lace in a beautiful wave stitch pattern, this beautiful cowl works great for a variety of outfit options.

Craft Crochet

Maker Charlotte Lee

Designer Charlotte Lee

Skill Level Beginner

Equipment

• 1 Crochet Hook in size H-8 US / 5 mm

Materials

• 2 skeins SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Gemini

Instructions

• To crochet the Yona cowl, download a copy of the pattern from the SweetGeorgia shop or free from the SOS Pattern Library.
• Determine your gauge worked over Wave st pattern, after blocking.
• Crochet a chain and follow the pattern as instructed crocheting the Wave Stitch design. Use the full skein of DK-weight yarn for all instructions, ignoring any colour change instructions.
• Cut yarn, leaving a 4" / 10 cm tail for seaming.
• Wet block the cowl, let dry fully, and enjoy!
  

Notes

Pattern information from Charlotte Lee:

Squishy and lacy, with a super simple construction, this cowl has just enough warmth and elegance for sunny days or cool evenings.

 

The post One Pattern, Two Yarns: The Yona Cowl Gets a DK Makeover appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

A Busy Crafter

Robyn is also a prolific and very organized maker. As a busy mom with a full-time job and a half-time job at SweetGeorgia, she uses her organizing skills to make time in her busy schedule to keep learning.

A Quick Q&A with Robyn

What’s your role at SweetGeorgia?

• School Moderator

What fibre arts did you enjoy before joining us?

• Knitting and weaving

Which fibre arts do you do now that you are here?

• Knit, crochet, spin, weave, needle and wet felting, sew, tapestry weave, embroider, and dyeing.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

• Weight lifting, walking my dog, reading, and spending time with my husband and two preteen babies.

Are there any tools, equipment, or accessories you’d recommend?

• For knitting, it would be a gauge ruler – the only way to see what you’ll end up with when you are done.
• For weaving, a tool kit/holder – my daughter made two pieces in her woods class, and having all of the weaving tools at my reach makes it so much easier.

Which is your favourite fibre or yarn?

• Anything SweetGeorgia Trifecta (fibre or yarn)

Fun fact:

• I’m a big believer of Astrology – as my family is living proof that you are your sign *sigh*

Places to Find Robyn Gibbons:

• SweetGeorgia + Co
• Robyn’s SweetGeorgia Articles

Thank you, Robyn, for always supporting our community, for sharing your projects, and for hosting make-alongs and learning with the School members throughout the year.

The post SweetGeorgia Team Spotlight: Robyn Gibbons appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

You can find the original Pirate’s Cove pattern (for hand knitting) by Hilary Latimer on Ravelry. Hilary graciously gave permission to Christine Welsh to post a machine-knit version of the shawl in the Pirate’s Cove for LK150.

PUTTING LEFTOVER YARNS TO WORK

Anita prepped the SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK leftovers as center-pull balls from the Shift Cowl in Amber Ale, Coastline, and Lupine, plus Birch from the Ranunculus Pullover.

The SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK worked really well on the LK 150. The woolly nature of the yarn allows the stitches to stay on the needles, and the subtle colour variegation of the hand-dyed yarns is showcased in the knitted fabric. The final textile at a gauge of 18 sts and 26 rows has a soft and fluid hand, perfect for a drapey accessory. And the lovely shine of the Bluefaced Leicester wool, mohair, and silk glows in the finished shawl.

The four shades, Coastline, Lupine, Amber Ale, and Birch, offer good value contrast between them. Using up leftovers allows the different shawl sections to shine while making a fun accessory that will coordinate with your original knits.

EXPLORE MACHINE KNITTING AT THE SCHOOL

Looking to expand your machine knitting skills plus find inspiration for a range of other projects? Visit the School of SweetGeorgia (SOS) to explore our growing library of machine knitting, hand knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and dyeing courses. There you can learn more about machine knitting basics and more taught by Barb Barone.

Even better, our Back to School Sale is taking place now until the end of September 30th! Our biggest sale of the year, lock in a 20% discounted rate for as long as you remain a School of SweetGeorgia member. Join today and discover your new creative journey!

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Machine Knit Pirate’s Cove in SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK

A fabulous woolly yarn with subtle hand-dyed colour variegation is showcased in the knitted fabric of this lovely triangular shawl design.

Craft Machine Knitting

Maker Anita Lee

Designer Christina Welsh, Hilary Latimer

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Silver Reed LK 150 Knitting Machine

Materials

• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Birch
• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Lupine
• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Coastline
• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Amber Ale

Instructions

• Download the Pirate's Cove pattern from Ravelry.
• Set up the LK 150 according to the instructions in the pattern. Determine your gauge on a small swatch. Anita used a tension dial at 5 on the LK 150 for a gauge of 18 stitches and 26 rows.
  
• Using Colour C1 and following the pattern, cast on. Knit Section One–Solid.
• Add C2 and, alternating between C1 and C2, machine knit Section Two–Stripes.
• Machine knit Section Three–Lace Section, adding C3 as instructed in the pattern.
• Follow with Section Four–Stripes and Section Five–Solid. Continue with C1* when no more leftovers are available from C1.
• Bind off loosely. Weave in ends and block lightly. Let dry fully and enjoy!
  

Notes

Yardage amounts used:

• C1: 164 yds / 168 m Birch
• C2: 98 yd / 90 m Amber Ale 
• C3: 147 yd / 135 m Coastline
• C1*: 61 yd / 56 m  Lupine

 

As Christine shares in the pattern info:

“This is a version of the handknitting pattern “Pirate’s Cove” by Hilary Designs, adapted specifically for the LK150 home knitting machine. This asymmetrical shawl starts at the small point with increases every other row, until the whole bed is filled (150 stitches). It may be knit on other knitting machines, however, adjustments would need to be made in gauge, increases and number of rows. 

This pattern is especially suitable for beginning machine knitters. The hand manipulating, especially in the eyelet section, will give the beginner lots of practice in transferring stitches. Changing colors and carrying yarn are additional skills for the beginner to learn. Any knitter can enjoy this pattern as a great stash buster, with endless possibilities for color combinations.

 

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more.
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings. School of SweetGeorgia members have full access to the community and SOS courses at this fun fibre arts space.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

The post Stash-Busting on the LK 150: Pirate’s Cove Shawl in Trifecta DK appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

TL;DR: In a gradient yarn, there is a gradual shift between different colours. In this article, I explain the process to prepare the fibre from a hand-dyed braid with distinct colours. After you separate and rearrange the colours of fibre, you can use a fibre prep tool such as hand carders, blending board, or drum carder. I showcase using a drum carder for a very straightforward 2-ply gradient yarn.

To learn to prepare your fibre, you need a hand-dyed braid, your hands, and a scale. To prepare a cohesive and easy-to-spin preparation, your favourite carding tool and a diz are useful.

Choose a Hand-Dyed Braid with at Least Three Colours

Choose a hand-dyed braid with three or more colours. I chose a SweetGeorgia braid with shades of magenta, blue, and green.

Separate the Fibre into the Different Colours

Find a room with good lighting. To get started, unbraid and open up the braid of hand-dyed fibre. Find a place on the braid with one of the colour shifts, loosen the fibre, as it may be a tad compacted from dyeing. With your hands holding the length of fibre separated about 10–12″ / 25–30 cm, start separating the fibre.

Rearrange the Colours

Think about the final yarn construction. You may need a scale in some cases.

• If you plan for the final yarn to stay as singles, arrange the colours from one colour to the next in a row in the order you plan to spin them.
• If you plan on spinning a traditional 2-ply yarn, you will need two bundles of gradient fibre that you will spin on different bobbins to 2-ply. Divide the colours into two bundles with about the same weight, so if you are spinning 4 oz / 115 g total, each bundle will be about half that. To be quite precise, I use a basket where I add all the fibre in one colour and weigh it. Then I separate half of it by weight into one bundle and keep the other half in another bundle. Then I repeat this process with each of the colours.
• If spinning a traditional yarn with 3 or more plies, you would divide the total fibre into as many bundles as there are plies, with each of the bundles with all the colours of the gradient organized in the same order.
• If planning to chain-ply your singles for a 3-ply yarn, arrange the colours from one colour to the next in a row in the order you plan to spin them.

Using a Drum Carder to Blend the Colour Bundles

If you don’t have any fibre prep tools yet, you can certainly spin from the fibre as it is at this stage. If spinning two or more singles, you can keep the fibre bundles in separate containers in the order you plan to spin them. Remember to pay attention so you keep the colours in order.

Using a carding tool, we can produce a smoother transition between colours on the gradient. We can also choose our favourite spinning format: dizzed roving, batts, batting, rolags, or more, depending on the kind of yarn we want. Each of these formats has a different alignment and airiness of the fibre preparation across the whole spectrum from woollen to worsted.

With fibres such as SweetGeorgia Polwarth+Silk that tend to puff out after working with them, I find I can fit comfortably 2 oz / 60 g of fibre with minimal fibres accumulating on the small drum. As I was blending hand-dyed commercial top, I adjusted the drum carder’s drive band to the smaller whorl for a 4:1 ratio. This is recommended by Ashford to blend sliver and colours into an open and airy batt.

I took half of my total fibre, already divided as a gradient, and started adding it to the tray, colour by colour in a localized way. I started with all the pink fibre and placed it piece by piece where I could see through the attenuated fibre in the third of the tray farthest away from my body. I rotated slowly and added more fibre to the same area, adding a bit less in what would become the transition zone to the next colour in the middle third of the tray. Then I continued with this process, adding fibre to the middle of the tray with the blue fibre. Once finished, I did the same with the green fibre. I was quite pleased with the way the fibre gradient looked on the large drum.

Removing the Fibre from the Drum

I then used a diz to remove the fibre from the drum carder as roving. To do this, I stopped rotating the handle when the doffer strip (the metal section that crosses through the large drum to aid in the removal of batts with a doffer) was on top of the drum. I loosened the knobs to move the packer brush so it wouldn’t touch the large drum and placed a concave diz just after the doffer strip.

After getting a bit of fibre through the diz, I started removing the fibre as a gradient roving from the large drum. I added a slight twist to the right at the beginning of the doffed roving, and I started rolling it as a ball to keep it organized and out of the way of the drums’ teeth. I kept moving the diz clockwise on the large drum, ensuring that all the fibres under it were caught and went through the diz. After I came back to the doffer strip, I moved the diz a bit farther from my body so it would catch the fibres still on the large drum. I kept doing this until I removed all the fibres from the large drum. Halfway through this process, the ball of roving felt very awkward in my hands while handling the diz, so I decided to separate the fibre and start another roving.

The process of removing roving from a drum carder requires skill, so I decided to go slow and be gentle with myself, as it was definitely not smooth the first few times I did it. Then I repeated this entire process with the other 2 oz / 60 g of gradient fibres.

Spinning Your Gradient Preparation

You may choose your spinning approach as you wish. If I am spinning 4 oz / 115 g of fibre or less, I really like to use one bobbin to spin it all. I add 8/2 cotton as a marker spun in between each section of singles. Then I transfer each singles section to a secondary bobbin to ply them through the rings.

I hope this article has inspired you to find a beautiful braid from your stash and prepare the fibre as a gradient. If you would like to learn more, we have wonderful courses in the School of SweetGeorgia for you: A fibre prep tool, such as carding cloth and a diz, can give you the pleasure of spinning beautiful roving. Kim McKenna explored and demonstrated this technique in Spin a Hand-Dyed Braid Five Ways, both with hand carders and a blending board. Diana Twiss, in her Colour and Fibre Play course, shows how to prepare fibre with rainbow gradients with either a blending board or a drum carder. Both courses are inspiring, and I encourage you to watch them and get inspired.

If In Doubt, Swatch

Oh, I am half kidding, as I do love to “sample and swatch,” but once you have your beautiful gradient yarn, I do encourage you to choose a project to showcase it as soon as possible. As much as a handspun gradient skein is a thing of magic, seeing it on a finished accessory or garment is the bee’s knees.

Please share with us your wins or challenges in preparing a gradient yarn and your multicraftual project. We would love to see what you are making next in the SweetGeorgia + Co community!

The post Creating a Gradient on the Drum Carder For Hand Spinning appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

We are big fans of Tin Can Knits, a Canadian design team that focuses on designing modern, clean, and approachable patterns. For many knitters, the Flax pullover has been their first sweater pattern, and for many others, it’s the one they reach for over and over. The extensive size range offered in Tin Can Knits patterns is the perfect excuse to make a matching wardrobe for your kid, partner, or whole family.

SHOWCASING SPECIAL HAND-DYED HUES

In our quest to showcase gorgeous colour in our beloved SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK yarn, the Flax DK sweater was a no-brainer. With so many stunning shades to choose from, we wanted to highlight one of our signature colourways: Magician. A semi-solid array of muted purples and blues, this colourway evokes an ocean of tranquillity in the Flax pullover canvas.

While this pattern is approachable to adventurous beginner knitters, we find the blend of Bluefaced Leicester, mohair, and silk showcases colour and gives the finished garment a polished look, ready to shine in your next outing.

Knit to a gauge of 22 stitches and 31 rows over 4 in / 10 cm, the fabric provides warmth while the sweater design makes for an upscale but utilitarian layer. It’s a cozy sweater that looks great on everyone. The DK-weight yarn makes knitting this sweater a relatively fast pursuit, so your next favourite layer will soon be joining you on your next hike, under a jacket, or at your favourite coffee shop.

EXPLORE SWEATER KNITTING AT THE SCHOOL

If you’re looking to expand your knitting skills and explore the world of sweater knitting, visit the School of SweetGeorgia. We have a number of online courses to help you along the way. From Mastering Gauge and Knit Your First Sweater taught by Tabetha Hedrick to Fundamentals to Finishing Knits with Holli Yeoh and Knitting with Hand-Dyed Colour with Felicia Lo. Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

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Flax DK in Magician: Your New Everyday Layer

From trailhead to coffee shop, cast on Tin Can Knits' Flax DK pullover in our cozy SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK yarn.

Craft Knitting

Maker Alison Lee

Designer Tin Can Knits

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles size US 4 / 3.5 mm, 16 in / 40 cm and 32” /80 cm long
• 1 Circular Knitting Needles size US 6 / 4.0 mm, 24 in / 60 cm and 32” /80 cm long
• 1 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN) set size US 4 / 3.5 mm for sleeves
• 1 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN) set size US 6 / 4.0 mm for sleeves

Materials

• 6 skeins SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Magician

Instructions

• Download a copy of the Flax DK pattern from Tin Can Knits.
• Knit a gauge swatch in the round with the suggested needles. Adjust needles if necessary until you get gauge.
• With larger needle and the long-tail method, cast on for your size. Place a BOR marker and join in the round.
• Work increase rounds.
• Divide body and sleeves.
• Continue in stockinette stitch for the body to desired length.
• Work body hem on smaller needle and bind off using your preferred stretchy bind off.
• Work sleeves, maintaining the ridge panel on the sides, to desired length following decreases as described in the pattern.
• Weave in ends and wet block sweater to finished measurements. Let dry fully and enjoy!

Notes

Pattern information from Tin Can Knits:

This sweater is worked seamlessly in the round from the top down. You cast on at the neckline and the yoke is shaped by raglan increases to the underarm. Sleeve sts are placed on hold on waste yarn, the body is completed, then sleeves are worked last.

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more!
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

The post Your First Sweater (or Your Fifteenth): Why We Love Flax DK appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Sometimes though, we fall into the trap of believing that a tool must be purchased from a specialty supplier to be legitimate or effective. This is not a put-down of specialty suppliers, but a reminder to all of us that some problems can be solved at the home and local level. Some of the most useful tools in the fibre arts are homemade, repurposed, or creatively adapted from everyday household items.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the DIY mindset and look at several examples from my world of spinning and knitting that demonstrate how resourcefulness and creativity can often be just as valuable as specialized equipment. 

Cultivating A DIY Mindset

Do It Yourself (DIY) is fundamentally about self-reliance. It refers to the practice of constructing, modifying, or repairing objects independently, without the assistance of professionals or experts. It’s the delightful independent spirit of “I’ll do it myself!”

People embrace DIY for many reasons. Some motivations are practical: reducing costs, making do with what is at hand, improving products, or creating customized solutions. Others are more personal and include the satisfaction of craftsmanship, a sense of empowerment, and the desire to create something unique.

For fibre artists, DIY often combines both practical and personal motivations. Homemade or repurposed tools can save money—especially when learning a new craft—but they also encourage experimentation, creativity, and problem-solving. 

Before we even had tools, we had our own bodies. We have found many ways to use various parts of our bodies to aid in textile production. Here are some examples of this: winding a skein using the length of our arm – hand to elbow and around again – as the niddy noddy; winding a centre-pull ball using our thumb as the core; winding a plying bracelet* for a two-strand preparation; having a friend or willing family member hold up their hands to support a skein of yarn being wound into a ball. 

DIY Tools for Spinners

Here are some examples of things that I have created or repurposed to make my spinning tasks easier. 

Fibre Preparation Tools

While I cannot champion DIY blending boards, hand carders, and even drum carders, as I have never made one myself, there are people who have successfully made their own pieces of equipment, so it’s worth looking up. My DIYs are mostly in the range of those “handy” tools that may not yet have a name or a substitute for the official piece of equipment. 

Cat & Dog Brushes

Easily obtained for a fraction of the cost of true flick and hand carders, pet grooming brushes work surprisingly well for flicking locks, opening fibre, and even doffing fibre from a drum carder.

Cork & Double-Pointed Needle (DPN)

A simple wine cork with a fine 000 DPN stabbed into it can become a specialized doffing tool for clearing fibre off blending boards and drum carders. Simply the best tool to help remove fibres from carding cloth. 

Homemade Dizzes

A diz is a small, slightly concave disc with one or more holes used to draw wool or other fibres off a comb, drum, or hand card. It helps pull out a continuous, smooth strand of fibre to create roving. Any concave item, like a circle of PVC pipe with small holes drilled into it, can serve. I’ve even used a large button for this task. 

Prepared Fibre Storage

Many things can serve as a fibre storage host. I have found that the best things to store my prepped fibre in are things that I can see through and things that can stack. While you can buy these kinds of things, you probably have things around the house.  You can repurpose the tins (with clear lids) that come with our favourite (and still affordable) frozen cakes. I’ve also been surprised at the quality of plastic used by some food operations for take-away foods. For their own reasons, the lids are clear or nearly clear plastic. The lids securely seal and allow you to see what is inside. 

Yarn Management Tools

The Ubiquitous Toilet Paper Roll

An empty toilet paper roll (TPR) can function as a simple nostepinne for winding centre-pull balls by hand. Once you’ve wound your singles yarn onto a TPR, you can make a centre-pull ball, or you can store the yarn and leave all options open. 

If you have a ball winder, place a TPR over the yarn holder, insert a small shim such as half of a wooden clothespin to make sure it is tight, and wind your singles onto the roll. Remove the roll. 

In both instances, whether you wound the singles by hand or via a ball winder, the top of the TPR provides a convenient place to record fibre information and spinning notes.

Niddy Noddy For Making Skeins

My favourite DIY tool will forever be the niddy noddy my children made for me from three cut pieces of hockey stick and duct tape. A truly Canadian item! Made with love and worked surprisingly well for many years. For the more adventurous, I have seen many DIY niddy noddys made from PVC pipe and fixtures, easily obtained at the local hardware store. 

Swifts For Holding Skeins

In the absence of a niddy noddy, I have wound my yarn around the back of chairs (or two chairs back-to-back to create tension) or have inverted the chair and used all four legs to get a larger skein. 

Spinning

Many Things Can Be A Distaff

A distaff doesn’t need to be purpose-built. A whisk, tree branch, dowel, knitting needle, or other long object can serve the same purpose. Additionally, any kind of loose thing around your wrist (bracelet, cuff, watchstrap) can also serve as a spot for holding fibre while spinning, especially spindle spinning. 

Household Items For Support Spindle Spinning

Large wooden spoons, small bowls, cups, jars, and other household items can provide excellent supports for spindle spinning. You just need to look at them in a different way. Turn the jar upside down, and you may find the perfect shallow bowl for spindle spinning. You can store your fibre in the jar and flip the jar for spindle spinning. The same thing applies to wooden spoons. I love using a spindle spoon when support spindle spinning. Large wooden spoons can be wonderfully repurposed for spindle spinning. 

A student gifted me with a pair of crystal salt cellars (who uses salt cellars these days?) to be used for support spindling. They are beautiful items, and to see them in use brings me great joy. Along those same lines are fancy China teacups with saucers that some of us have. The bottom of the cup and the dip in the saucer both serve well to support spindles. Another one in my collection is an egg cup (who uses egg cups these days?). The shape of it fits between my thighs, and the egg shape supports the spindle. 

Creative Spindle Storage

Plastic baskets, shoeboxes, cookie tins, decorative tubes that Scotch and other spirits come in, and other containers with firm sides make excellent spindle storage solutions. Bonus points if they can double as a lazy kate, allowing you to keep spindles under tension while winding off singles.

Lazy Kates

Baskets, shoeboxes, and other strong boxes that can have holes drilled or inserted in the side to hold spindles or wire for bobbins make terrific candidates as lazy kates**. My favourite one is a plastic basket that has ready-made holes along the walls. The top and bottom of most of my spindles sit in place, supported by the holes. This basket provides great storage and, when the spindle is held under tension, holds the spindle in place while I wind the yarn off it.

Some DIY tools for Knitters

Many Things Can Serve As Stitch Markers

Small rings, safety pins, paper clips, scraps of yarn, and countless other objects can serve as effective stitch markers.

A Contrasting Strand Of Yarn For Row Counting

A simple strand of brightly coloured yarn can help track rows and pattern repeats without the need for a specialized row counter. 

Everyday Bowl Elevated To Yarn Bowl 

While purpose-made yarn bowls are beautiful, almost any heavy and deep bowl can perform the same function by keeping your yarn contained and preventing it from rolling away. It’s the weight of the bowl that matters the most. If you want to guide the yarn, you can attach a binder clip to the edge and use the arms to guide the yarn. 

Any Bag Can Be A Project Bag

And that is the very danger of it. There is no bag safe from the potential of being “a project bag.” If the bag has inside pockets or a zippered or closing top, that moves it higher up the ladder of having desirable project bag features. 

Final Thoughts on DIY Tools

One of the joys of fibre arts is discovering creative solutions to everyday challenges. Developing a DIY mindset not only saves money but also encourages experimentation and ingenuity. Before purchasing a specialized tool, look around your home—you may already have exactly what you need. After all, we fibre artists have been adapting, repurposing, and inventing tools for centuries. Remember, some of the best solutions are often the simplest.

Find Diana’s articles here and her School of SweetGeorgia courses here!

The post Do-It-Yourself Tools for Hand Spinners & Knitters appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

THE POOL PARTY COLOUR STORY

When I first saw this colourway, I immediately thought about giant inflatable pool floaties. This colourway is all about the hot sun reflecting off a cool, sparkling pool, with an icy beverage… while surrounded by water toys. It’s bright, unabashedly vibrant, and just fun.

Even the streaky dye marks in this sock blank look like the shimmering ripples of a swimming pool. Maybe the purple helps you imagine a sunny day transitioning into dusk and evening. There are so many ways to look at and play with this spectrum of colours while you indulge in the simple joys of summer.

WORKING WITH A SOCK BLANK

Whenever we talk about single sock blanks, we suggest knitting or crocheting directly from the sock blank, unraveling it as you go. Knitting or crocheting directly from a sock blank is crinkly, but the crinkles block out perfectly for a smooth, beautiful finish.

You can also combine the sock blank with a second skein for a larger project. One sock blank alone is enough to knit into a scarf or shawl, just like the sample we made at the Studio, Soft Twilight. Read more about this sample shawl at the project page.

For this month, since it is the month we will be starting our “Summer Spectra Knit-Along” I’d also suggest maybe knitting this sock blank along with a second skein of SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock to make the Hebe Sunset Scarf design. Or if you weave, you might use the gradient sock blank as warp or weft in a project too. We can’t wait to see what you create from this!

JOIN THE CLUB CONVERSATION

One of the fundamental beliefs we have at SweetGeorgia is that the colours we surround ourselves with can transform our experience of life. Whether you knit, crochet, weave, or something else, join us at our SweetGeorgia + Co community. We’d love to hear your thoughts on our Pool Party colourway and see what you make with it.

Thank you for following along with us for our colourful Secret Stash Club adventure. We’ll see you next month!

The post Secret Stash Club Reveal: Pool Party appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

AUGUST 2026 CLUB: POOL PARTY

This month’s Club colourway is bright, vibrant, and pure fun! Inspired by the hot sun reflecting off a cool, sparkling pool, the streaky dye marks in this sock blank look like the shimmering ripples of a summer swimming pool. Hand dyeing the Pool Party colours on a single sock blank allows the maker to enjoy the vibrant gradient of hues as it transitions from one to the next. Read more about our August Club at the colour reveal post.

WEARABLE COLOUR FOR ANY SEASON

This lacy triangular shawl showcases the full Pool Party gradient in all its glory. Flowing from sun-drenched yellow through shimmering aqua into the deep, moody violet, we’re in love with this month’s sample. The open stitch pattern of the Soft Twilight shawl catches the light like ripples on a pool’s surface, revealing every shift in colour across the fabric.

Knit from a single sock blank, the seamless colour transition does all the heavy lifting without multiple yarn ends to weave in along the way. Whatever you choose to create, even a simple stitch pattern yields show-stopping results.

JOIN THE CLUB

We look forward to sharing more project inspiration with colourways we’ve concocted as part of our Secret Stash Club. Telling stories through our colours and sharing how we see the world, we hope you join us there!

Print

Soft Twilight Shawl in SweetGeorgia Club “Pool Party”

Enjoy the beautiful texture and vibrant gradient in this asymmetrical shawl design by Corrina Ferguson.

Craft Knitting

Maker Deborah Dar Woon

Designer Corrina Ferguson

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size 5 US / 3.75 mm

Materials

• 1 blank SweetGeorgia Sock Yarn Blank in Pool Party

Instructions

• To knit the Soft Twilight shawl, download a copy of the pattern, available at the SweetGeorgia shop.
• Follow directions for the cast on and setup rows.
• Repeat rows 1-12 of the Body Pattern until your yarn is almost fully used up (see notes below), making sure to leave enough yarn for the bind off.
• Work the Picot Bind Off instructions.
• Weave in ends and wet block to open up the lace and bring out the picots along the endging. Let dry full and enjoy!
  

Notes

Notes from our sample knitter, Deborah: 

With very careful yarn monitoring, I was able to complete 18 pattern repeats plus 4 additional rows, then bind off. 

From the pattern design:

Delicate slipped stitches and beginner cables meander across the fabric of this asymmetrical shawl, creating a beautiful, airy effect. The subtle shift of colours captivates our attention, reminding us of the soft hues that dance the snow at twilight.

 

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more!
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

The post Secret Stash Club Knitting: Soft Twilight appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Charlotte Lee is a precision dyer, does quality control, designs, teaches, and hosts events for our SweetGeorgia community. And in her spare time, she kits, crochets, spins, weaves and, when the mood strikes, needle felts. She can also be found knitting many hats for charity. She is truly a multicraftual maker with a heart for community! 

Where to Find Charlotte Lee

• Charlotte’s ‘Milk Tea Cup’ Instagram
• Charlotte’s patterns at SweetGeorgia Yarns
• Explore Charlotte’s courses at the School of SweetGeorgia 
• Read about her charity knitting: Handmade with Love: The Impact of Charity Crafting
• See the SweetGeorgia Team Spotlight: Charlotte Lee post
• Join our Summer Spectra Knit-Along

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for spending time with us in this episode! If you enjoyed it, we’d love for you to share it with your fellow fibre-loving friends. And if you’re enjoying the show, please consider leaving a rating and review on iTunes; it helps us reach more makers like you.

If you’d like to hear more, you can subscribe to our podcast and never miss an episode!

• Subscribe on iTunes
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We read every message, whether it’s on our Instagram, YouTube, or SweetGeorgia + Co.

Join Our Community!

• At the School of SweetGeorgia, we’ve built a vibrant and welcoming community of fibre-loving makers, passionate instructors, and dedicated staff. Whether you’re looking for guidance on a new technique or just need a little creative encouragement, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
• Not yet a member of the School? We invite you to come and see what it is all about! Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!
• We welcome you to join us at SweetGeorgia + Co. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings! We discuss all things knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, machine knitting, and more! 
• Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter! It’s a simple way to stay updated on what’s new at SweetGeorgia and the School of SweetGeorgia, catch up on the latest articles, watch new SweetGeorgia YouTube videos, and be a part of our community without any pressure to post. We value your presence, no matter how you choose to connect with us!

The post The SweetGeorgia Show // S6 E12: Charlotte Lee appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

At the same time, there are still new projects calling our name. A new weaving pattern catches your eye, a fibre blend begs to be spun, or a new course arrives in the School of SweetGeorgia, and you cannot wait to cast on. How do you keep all of those projects moving? How do you make room for new ideas while still finishing the projects that matter most?

We understand. Being a multicraftual maker is wonderfully inspiring, but it can also feel like you are being pulled in a dozen different directions. There are only so many hours in the day, and every new skill seems to open the door to three more projects you would love to try. That is exactly why a mid-year check-in can be so helpful.

Throughout the year, we have shared free downloadable PDFs designed to help you organize your creative life, whether that means tracking projects, recording handspun yarns, or managing your tools and time. This month, we are taking a step back to revisit the goals we set at the beginning of the year, celebrate the progress we have already made, and create a realistic plan for the months ahead. The goal is not to finish everything. The goal is to make space for the projects that bring you the most joy. And we hope our Mid-Year Check-In PDF at the end of the post can help you get either back on track or follow your new creative curiosities!

Revisit Your Beginning of the Year Goals

Start by pulling out the plans you made at the beginning of the year, or spend a few moments thinking about what you hoped to accomplish.

Have your goals changed?

If they have, that is completely normal. Perhaps you discovered the joys of spinning cotton and happily disappeared down that rabbit hole. Maybe a new tool, like an LK 150 knitting machine, has completely changed what you want to make.

Creative goals are allowed to evolve. Rather than feeling guilty about unfinished plans, give yourself permission to update them. Some projects may no longer feel exciting, while others have become much more important. Following your curiosity is part of being a creative maker.

What projects are still calling to you?

Some projects never quite leave your mind. Maybe it is the crochet blanket you have been dreaming about, a sweater knit from your own handspun yarn, or finally weaving from that handpainted warp.

If a project continues to stay with you, it is probably worth making room for it. When the next exciting pattern or shiny new fibre appears, remind yourself of the projects that truly matter to you this year.

What is holding you back?

Sometimes projects stall for a reason. Is there a tool you are missing, need to learn a new technique, or simply do not know what the next step should be?

Instead of thinking about the entire project, write down the obstacle. Then break it into small, manageable steps. Perhaps you need to wind a warp, make a gauge swatch, or spin one more bobbin. Each small task brings you closer to completing the larger project and gives you something achievable to cross off your list.

Take Inventory of Your Current Projects

Now it is time to see everything that is currently on your needles, loom, spinning wheel, or craft table. Making a complete list often feels surprisingly freeing. Instead of carrying every project around in your mind, you can see what is actually waiting for your attention.

What is ready to begin?

These are the projects that have already been planned. The yarn has been purchased, the calculations are finished, and everything is waiting for you to get started.

Ask yourself if each one still belongs on this year’s list. Some projects may still feel exciting. Others may be better saved for next year. Moving a project to a future list is not giving up. It is simply making room for the projects that matter most right now.

What unexpected projects appeared?

Creative curiosities have a way of showing up when we least expect them. Did you join a make-along, take a new course, or just fall in love with a fibre that you could not resist?

Take a moment to decide whether these newer projects deserve your immediate attention or whether they can happily wait until you have finished something already in progress. Prioritizing your projects is not about limiting your creativity. It is about creative focus.

Plan the Rest of the Year

Now that you know where you started and where you are today, it is time to look ahead.

Is there something that needs to be finished this year?

Some projects naturally rise to the top of the list. Perhaps you are making holiday gifts, making something for an event, or working toward a larger creative goal that depends on finishing this project first, like spinning yarn to weave a project.

Give those projects a realistic timeline and work backwards. Even setting aside one evening each week can move a project steadily toward completion.

What would make you feel accomplished?

Not every project needs to be large. Finishing a pair of socks, spinning a braid of fibre, or weaving a set of tea towels can provide the motivation you need to tackle something bigger. Choose a mix of projects that gives you both quick wins and longer-term goals.

Leave room for inspiration

A plan works best when it is flexible. You do not have to schedule every evening or account for every new idea. In fact, leaving a little creative space means you can still say yes to a spontaneous spin, a community make-along, or the next course that inspires you. Creativity thrives when there is room to explore.

Mid-Year Check-In Resources

Having the right resources can help you on this creative journey. Whether it’s planning goals, building skills, or troubleshooting issues, we are here to help!

School of SweetGeorgia 

At the School of SweetGeorgia, we offer over 100 courses in knitting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, crochet and more to get you going on your path. Receive help from instructors and fellow members from around the world. 

SweetGeorgia + Co 

Sometimes it is just about having a community around you to share your passions with, be inspired by and support one another. When we have a like-minded community, we feel more confident to explore our fibre arts ideas and grow our skills in ways we never could imagine! Join us at SweetGeorgia + Co.

Download the Mid-Year Check-In PDF

To help organize the second half of the year, we have gathered these questions into a free downloadable Mid-Year Check-In PDF. These worksheets can help you turn a long list of ideas into a plan that feels achievable. 

And remember, having plans isn’t set in stone. Take your time and enjoy the process. Being creative means exploring those what-if questions and following your imagination. And if that means not finishing a project, it isn’t a failure. It is proof of your creative explorations! 

We hope we have helped with your mid-year check-in, and we would love to hear your plans in the SweetGeorgia + Co craft channels!

The post Crafting with Intention: A Mid-Year Creative Check-In appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Yua Cowl

The Yua Cowl is the featured pattern in Linda Marveng’s Advanced Cables course. Linda’s design work is stunningly sleek, fashion-forward, and often highly textured with intricate cables. The Yua Cowl is an approachable introduction to her design aesthetic.

Staghorn cables are a perfect introduction to exploring the versatility of reversible cables. The repetitive pattern of the cables, worked in ribbing and garter stitch, allows the knitter to tackle the chart and knit with confidence. The result is a thoughtfully designed accessory. Working through the cowl, the basic structure of reversible cables becomes clear, making other advanced cables a natural next step in your learning.

SweetGeorgia Merino Worsted

Linda chose SweetGeorgia Merino Worsted yarn for her Yua Cowl design. The beautiful, soft hand of the easy-care yarn, combined with the vibrant colours, makes for an accessory you will enjoy knitting and even gifting. With over a hundred shades to choose from, you can find a classic colour, such as Brass, or a vibrant one, such as Huckleberry, to accentuate your go-to outfit while keeping you warm.

Once you have three skeins in your favourite colour, you will settle into a lovely rhythm as you knit and enjoy watching the cables emerge in the fabric as it grows on your lap.

Explore Colour and Knitting at the School

Looking to expand your knitting skills and find inspiration for a range of other projects? Visit the School of SweetGeorgia to explore our growing library of knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, and dyeing courses. There you can learn more about Knitting with Hand-Dyed Colour and Colour Play, both taught by Felicia Lo.

Discover the courses and community of fibre arts makers at the School. Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

We invite you to connect with us at the SweetGeorgia + Co, our vibrant community where instructors and fellow members are ready to answer questions and share guidance. Visit our SweetGeorgia Ravelry group, where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008. Follow us on Instagram and SweetGeorgia YouTube for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs, so you never miss what’s going on

We’re happy to have you in the SweetGeorgia community. Happy knitting.

Print

Yua Cowl

Yua, which is Japanese for “bound by love and affection”, is a reversible cowl with staghorn cables worked in ribbing with garter stitch for contrast and a double-knit band for a neat edge. Wear this cowl once around your neck as a knitted statement or twice for warmth.

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles Size US 7 / 4.5 mm, 24 in / 60 cm long

Materials

• 3 skeins SweetGeorgia Merino Worsted in Huckleberry or Brass.

Instructions

• Download the pattern for the Yua Cowl from School of SweetGeorgia or buy it on the SweetGeorgia shop.
• Determine your gauge.
• Using US 7 / 4.5 needle and yarn (or waste yarn and a provisional cast-on method if you prefer to graft), CO.
• Establish the pattern, working from the chart or written instructions.
• Work for the desired length.
• Leave stitches on your needle or BO.
• If you used a provisional cast-on, graft beginning and end together.
• Weave in ends.
• Wet block the cowl to the finished measurements.
  

Notes

Craft: Knitting

Maker: Greta Cornejo, Linda Marveng

Designer: Linda Marveng

Skill level: Intermediate

The post Advance Your Cable Skills with the New SOS Course & Yua Cowl appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

This year, we decided to do something a little different. Instead of making a garment, we’re celebrating accessories! Scarves are the perfect opportunity to play with colour, use treasured scraps, or enjoy a beautifully curated palette with one of our kits.

The Hebe Sunset Scarf

Our knit-along features the Hebe Sunset Scarf, designed by Charlotte Lee, inspired by her recent travels through New Zealand. Gentle ocean ripples, colourful native flora, and glowing sunset skies all come together in this beautiful design. As you knit, each section captures the feeling of standing quietly in the countryside, watching the landscape shift as the colours change across the horizon.

The Hebe Sunset Scarf is designed using one full skein of fingering-weight yarn along with five mini skeins, like in our Party of Five kits. Each colour block introduces a new colour and stitch pattern that change throughout the scarf, keeping every section engaging. Before long, you’ll be looking forward to the next colour and texture. It’s no surprise that many of our test knitters are already planning a second version!

Getting Started

The first step is to pick up your copy of the pattern. You can purchase it through our shop or on Ravelry. You can purchase the pattern on its own or pair it with one of our beautiful SweetGeorgia yarn kits. Your pattern also includes access to SweetGeorgia + Co, our online community where we’ll be hosting the knit-along.

Inside the community, you can share your progress, ask questions, post photos, and connect with knitters from around the world. You’ll also be invited to our monthly Multicraftual meetup, giving you two community gatherings during the knit-along.

If you’d like even more community extras, consider becoming a Maker Member at SweetGeorgia + Co. Maker members receive access to additional discussion spaces and a new free pattern every month. You’ll still need to purchase the Hebe Sunset Scarf pattern, but you’ll receive it at a reduced price.

For the ultimate SweetGeorgia experience, join the School of SweetGeorgia. Since everything lives on the same platform, you’ll enjoy full access to the community along with our extensive library of online courses. Choose a Knitting & Crochet membership for access to more than 20 knitting and crochet courses, or become an All-Access member and explore over 100 courses covering spinning, weaving, dyeing, machine knitting, knitting, crochet, and more. As a School member, you’ll receive the Hebe Sunset Scarf pattern at no additional cost.

Choosing Your Yarn

If you’ve picked up one of our kits, you’re ready to cast on!

If you’re choosing your own yarn, check the pattern for the required yardage. You can recreate the look with one of our Party of Five kits, or dive into your stash and gather your favourite fingering-weight yarn scraps. That’s one of the joys of this project. Every scarf can be unique, and every colour combination tells its own story.

Join the Summer Spectra Knit-Along 2026

Our official cast-on is August 1, but don’t worry if you join us later. This knit-along runs for nearly two months, so there’s plenty of time to jump in. This isn’t a race. It’s about enjoying the process, playing with colour, cheering each other on, and sharing the joy of making together. We can’t wait to see everyone’s creative colour choices, clever stash combinations, and maybe even a few scarves made with handspun yarn fresh from Tour de Fleece!

Share Your Finished Project

At the end of the knit-along, we’d love to celebrate everything you’ve created. Even if your scarf isn’t quite finished, you can still enter to win a SweetGeorgia gift card!

Simply scroll to the bottom of the Summer Spectra Knit-Along page and upload a photo of your project. We’ll feature community projects in our wrap-up post at the end of September, and we truly cannot wait to see every unique Hebe Sunset Scarf that comes off your needles!

The post SweetGeorgia Summer Spectra Knit-Along 2026! appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

FROM NEW ZEALAND TO YOUR NEEDLES

Named for hebe, a beloved flowering evergreen native to New Zealand, Charlotte Lee’s Hebe Sunset Scarf captures a sense of light and movement. Inspired by her recent trip to New Zealand, the design reflects the shifting colours of the landscape and the delicate shapes of local flora.

The Hebe Sunset Scarf features diagonal bands of delicate leaf lace and garter stitch stripes, with each section catching the light like colours shifting across an evening sky. The pattern uses one SweetGeorgia Trifecta Fine skein paired with a Party of Five Trifecta Fine mini-skein set created specially for this design. In the main version, the Black Raspberry main colourway weaves between panels of soft periwinkle, sage green, and teal, with the warm mauve edges framing each transition.

Three Colours, Three Moods

By simply switching the main colour, each scarf takes on its own distinct mood: one is bold and jewel-toned, with deep magenta anchoring vivid turquoise and blue; one is soft and romantic, peachy coral drifting between blush and mint; and one is cool and dreamy, lavender guiding the eye through muted sage and periwinkle. Same mini-skein set, three completely different personalities.

SUMMER SPECTRA KNIT-ALONG

The Hebe Sunset Scarf pattern is the feature project for our new Summer Spectra Knit-Along. Last year, we explored colourwork sweater knitting during our summer knit-along, but this year, we’re focusing on something lighter. An engaging project to enjoy during the final days of summer.

Join in the knit-along chat by sharing your colour choices and knitting progress in the SweetGeorgia + Co community. Access to the community (available during the KAL dates) is included with your purchase of the pattern. Further information can be found at the Summer Spectra Knit-Along page.

EXPLORE KNITTING AT THE SCHOOL

Looking to expand your current knitting skills and find inspiration for new project ideas? Visit the School of SweetGeorgia to explore our growing library of knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and dyeing courses. There you can learn more about Knitting with Hand-Dyed Colour with Felicia Lo, Fundamentals to Finishing Knits with Holli Yeoh, and more.

Discover the courses and community of fibre arts makers at the School. Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

Print

Hebe Sunset Scarf in SweetGeorgia Trifecta Fine

A beautiful bias-knit scarf with flowing lace sections and garter ridges knit in SweetGeorgia's Trifecta Fine blend yarn.

Craft Knitting

Maker Charlotte Lee

Designer Charlotte Lee

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size US 4 / 3.5 mm, 32" / 80 cm long
• 1 Double Pointed Needles in size 6 US / 4mm, for i-cord edge

Materials

• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Trifecta Fine in Black Raspberry
• 1 set SweetGeorgia Party of Five Trifecta Fine Mini-Skein Set in Wild Thistle

Instructions

• To knit the Hebe Sunset Scarf, download a copy of the pattern from the SweetGeorgia Shop.
• Once your gauge is determined, cast on the required number of stitches as in the pattern. Follow directions to knit the garter ridge rows.
• Continue knitting as instructed, switching colourways and pattern directions for each section of the pattern, including: Garter Ridge Rows, Water & Twig Lace Rows, etc.
• Bind off with any method of your choice. Keep one stitch on your needles as the end if you would like to knit the optional i-cord edging. When all four sides are worked, sew the beginning and end of the i-cord together. Bind off.
• Weave in all ends and hand wash scarf in room temperature water and gentle soap. Rinse by swishing gently in clean water, then squeeze out excess moisture in a towel.
• Block stretching the lace to measurements. Once dry, trim ends and enjoy!
  

Notes

Pattern information from the design:

This bias-knit scarf is inspired by New Zealand’s beautiful landscapes and sunsets. Flowing lace evokes leaves and flowers, while garter ridges represent the Tasman Sea. This scarf features colour and lace patterning that changes throughout, making each section new, exciting and hard to put down.

 

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more!
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

The post One Pattern, Three Sunsets: Meet the Hebe Sunset Scarf appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

This post is just a small snapshot of the incredible yarns spun by our community this year. We hope it inspires you as it does us.

For the Love of Spinning

If you have never spun with SweetGeorgia during Tour de Fleece before, we should explain that we have no teams. There are no leaderboards to climb, no spinning quotas to meet, and no pressure to produce a certain amount of yardage. Instead, we come together to encourage one another, celebrate every spindle and bobbin, and simply enjoy the process of making yarn.

Fantastic Fibre-Prep

Tour de Fleece Spin-Along

Spin-alongs like Tour de Fleece are wonderful opportunities to build new skills, experiment with different techniques, find better ways to manage projects, time, or focus, and connect with people who love fibre just as much as you do. Whether you spin every day or simply find a few quiet moments throughout the event, every project and every member adds something special to the experience.

Stunning Spindle-Spinning

Inspired by Our Community

Our Spinning and Tour de Fleece 2026 feeds in the SweetGeorgia + Co Community were filled with stunning hand-dyed braids and beautifully prepared farm-fresh locks. We saw thoughtful fibre blends, creative spinning techniques, and inspiring colour combinations. We watched fibres transform into beautiful yarns in every weight imaginable, from delicate lace to chunky yarns. And final yarns were anything from classic 2-ply to textured coil-spun yarns. Every project tells a story, and seeing each one come to life is always a highlight of the tour.

Beautiful Bobbin-Shots

Join Our Make-Alongs

We spin for Tour de Fleece every year, and we would love for you to join us in 2027. But the fun does not stop at Tour de Fleece. Next week, we begin our Summer Spectra Knit-Along, followed by Socktober in October. We also have our Winterful Weave-Along in November, and we kick off each year with Fibre Prep February.

If you enjoy making alongside a welcoming, multicraftual community that celebrates creativity, curiosity, and learning together, please join us at SweetGeorgia + Co. 

Handsome Handspun Hanks

The post Tour de Fleece 2026: Handspun Projects That Inspire!  appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

KNITTING THE RANUNCULUS SWEATER SAMPLE

At the studio, we were looking for a classic sweater, and the very popular Ranunculus pullover by Midori Hirose was an easy choice. We chose SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK to explore how it behaved in a more open fabric. And in Birch, one of our most popular neutral shades, it’s endlessly wearable and pairs beautifully with any outfit.

Knitting the sweater was a relatively fast pursuit for Anita, and as soon as the sample arrived in the studio, many of us swooned over it. We took turns trying it on and many of us immediately started planning our own versions. Knit to a gauge of 16 st and 22 rows in 4″/10 cm, there is a lightness in the fabric that makes the sweater incredibly comfortable and exactly the layer we intended it to be.

SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK is such a versatile yarn—soft, shiny, with a beautiful drape. Its woolliness keeps the wearer warm while the more open fabric makes this sweater ideal for air-conditioned spaces too. We can imagine a whole rainbow of sweaters in this yarn. As much as we love the Birch version, one knit in an Enigma collection colour would be fitting for any cloudy day.

EXPLORE COLOUR & KNITTING AT THE SCHOOL

Looking to expand your current knitting skills plus find inspiration for a range of other project ideas? Visit the School of SweetGeorgia (SOS) to explore our growing library of knitting, crochet, spinning, weaving, and dyeing courses. There you can learn more about Knitting with Hand-Dyed Colour with Felicia Lo, Fundamentals to Finishing Knits with Holli Yeoh, and more.

Discover the courses and community of fibre arts makers at the School. Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!

Print

Ranunculus Sweater in SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK

There's something irresistible about a neutral knit that goes with everything. We cast on the beloved Ranunculus pullover in our Trifecta DK and discovered a sweater we never want to take off.

Craft Knitting

Maker Anita Lee

Designer Midori Hirose

Skill Level Intermediate

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles Size US 9 / 5.5 mm, 16 in / 40 cm long
• 1 Circular Knitting Needles Size US 10 / 6.0 mm, 24 in / 60 cm long
• 1 Double-Pointed Needles (DPN) set Size US 10 / 6.0 mm for sleeves

Materials

• 4 skeins SweetGeorgia Trifecta DK in Birch

Instructions

• Download a copy of the Ranunculus pattern from Midori Hirose on Ravelry.
• Knit a gauge swatch in the round with the suggested needles. Adjust needles if necessary until you get gauge.
• With larger needle and the long-tail method, cast on for your size. Place a BOR marker and join in the round. Knit increases rounds.
• Knit lace yoke and increases rounds.
  
• Divide the body and sleeves. Knit stockinette stitch for the body for desired length. Work body hem on smaller needed and bind off in your preferred stretchy bind off.
• Work sleeves to desired length with decreases as described in the pattern.
• Weave in ends and wet block sweater to finished measurements. Let dry fully and enjoy!
  

Notes

Regarding the yardage listed for this project, Anita followed the size 3 directions. 

Pattern information from the designer Midori Hirose:

“Ranunculus is a top-down round yoke pullover with lace and textured stitches. I have designed yoke pattern to look like wearing layers of necklace. I have knitted short rows between neckribbing and yoke pattern not only on back bit also on front, so that neckline has a bit boat neck shape and yoke pattern has necklace look. The round yoke has ample depth and finished pullover has cropped length so that you can lay it over dresses or high-waisted skirts and pants. If crops aren’t your style, please adjust body to your favorite length.”

 

We Invite You to Connect with Us:

• Follow us at our SweetGeorgia YouTube channel and on Instagram for inspiration, how-to videos, podcasts, and more!
•  Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest pattern releases, colourway announcements, and make-alongs; you never miss what’s going on!
• We welcome you to join us in our SweetGeorgia + Co community. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings.
• Visit the SweetGeorgia Ravelry group where we’ve been sharing yarn, fibre, patterns, and make-alongs since 2008.

The post Endlessly Wearable: The Ranunculus Pullover in Trifecta DK appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Building Kits & Smiles

Rachael is always quick to smile and has the best laugh. She’s also a prolific hand-spinner and knitter. We love seeing her projects. She often borrows from the Vancouver Public Library’s excellent collection of knitting books to find lovely projects that showcase her handspun yarn. 

A Quick Q&A with Rachael

What’s your role at SweetGeorgia?

• Kits Producer and Studio Assistant.

What fibre arts did you enjoy before joining us?

• I knit and crocheted before joining SweetGeorgia.

Which fibre arts do you do now that you are here?

• I feel incredibly blessed to have learned wheel spinning here at the studio, and I’ve started dabbling a little in weaving.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

• I love reading; most of my non-crafting free time is spent with a book. I also love hiking and yoga.

Are there any tools, equipment, or accessories you’d recommend?

• I’d recommend a niddy noddy to everyone who works with yarn, even if you don’t spin, because it’s so helpful for re-skeining yarn.

Which is your favourite fibre or yarn?

• I prefer either SweetGeorgia BFL+Silk or Polwarth+Silk fibre, and I always find myself drawn to SweetGeorgia Tough Love Sock yarn, because the colours are so vibrant.

Fun fact:

• I recently bought a portable CD player, and it’s quickly become one of my favourite things.

Places to Find Rachael Lee

• Find her in our SweetGeorgia shop!

Thank you, Rachael, for always sharing your projects with us, making gorgeous kits so we can all enjoy colour, helping with so many studio tasks, and bringing the best energy every time we see you.

The post SweetGeorgia Team Spotlight: Rachael Lee appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Yes, many of us start by picking up a stunning braid of hand-dyed fibre and begin spinning. But how do we record the yardage when we are done? Why did one of the yarns pill while the other was perfect? If we don’t record our results, how do we know what changed? By recording our handspun, we will know exactly what we did before, during and after spinning.

Every month this year, we have been posting a free PDF to help everyone be more organized in their crafts, from time management to project documentation to even ways to be more efficient with travel plans. A few months ago, our post, Swap Loose Notes for Organized Records with Our Fibre Prep PDF, covered the important role fibre preparation plays in our final yarns. This month, we thought we could take it a step further with a Handspun Records PDF for our final handspun yarn statistics, including both a full sheet for detailed spinning documentation and small tags we can attach to our yarn for quick reference.

Before the Spin

There will be a bit of overlap here from the fibre prep post. We understand not everyone is interested in fibre preparation, but even just breaking the braid down by hand is worth mentioning in our spinning notes.

Fibre Type, Dyer & Place Purchased

It is always helpful to write down the type of fibre and where we got it, even if it is undyed. Everyone sources their fibre from different suppliers, and an undyed Cormo from one shop can be different from another. If it was hand-dyed, consider writing out the colourway name and dye lot, if available. Lastly, make a note of where it was purchased; whether it was a shop, or maybe it was at a fibre festival.

Fibre Prep Quick Notes

Whether we are doing a big spin project or a one-off snack spin, make a quick note about what we did. Was it carded prep, striped down for a 1:4:12 fractal, or spun end to end with no prep at all? It can even be a note that points us to more detailed fibre prep notes, like “Falling Leaves Colourwork Yoke Project.”

Spinning Equipment

Some people have a few wheels/spindles/e-Spinners and find each one is better suited for certain styles of yarn. You can write down the whorl size and type of spinning wheel, the speed setting on an e-Spinner, or the spindle style being used. 

Extras

It is always nice to jot down any extra ideas, like the date started or the intended purpose. Whatever feels important to note before the spin. 

During the Spin

When we begin spinning, there are a few things we can do to keep ourselves on track with our spinning goals.

Big Spin Checks

If it is a larger project, it is a good idea to spin a small sample (maybe 5 g or so) to ply and wet finish so we know exactly how the yarn will turn out. We don’t want to get through a pound of fibre only to realize it won’t work for our project.

Whether it is a large amount of yardage or fibre, it is worth stopping to take an arm’s length off and attach it to a card. It is common, once we get comfortable with our yarn, for it to become thinner or thicker, so stopping to reference this card can really help. Here we can check the wraps per inch and have a real sample to refer to throughout the spin.

Small Spin Checks

When spinning a single braid of fibre, we may not want to spin off singles onto a card. It will only take a gram (or less) of fibre, but if it is just a fun snack spin with no project in mind, why take the time? We understand. But it is still worth stopping and doing a quick plyback check to see what the wraps per inch is throughout the spin. We offer a free Wraps Per Inch download, and all we have to do is line up our singles and measure them against the lines.

After the Spin

Now that the spinning is done, or the sample is spun, we can record a few things to help with future project planning. If it is a sample, this is where we can make adjustments if there is a specific grist in mind. If there is no project planned, this can help decide how best to use it.

Wet Finishing

How we finish our yarns can have a big effect on the final result. That is why it is important to take these measurements after it is wet finished. It is also good to note how it was washed. Different methods can affect the outcome. Was it hot water or cool? Any agitation? Was it snapped or thwacked? Did the yarn bleed when washed? Also, some people like to record before and after washing, noting any changes in feel and look. 

Wraps Per Inch

Wraps per inch (abbreviated as WPI) measures the thickness of the yarn. Don’t get discouraged if it measures 20 wraps per inch and the internet says that is fingering-weight, when it looks like lace-weight. Everyone wraps a bit differently and uses slightly different tension. If pairing this yarn with another yarn, just compare their wraps per inch directly.

Yardage

It is always exciting to find out exactly how much yardage we have spun. After years of spinning, it may begin to feel easy to estimate yardage, but nothing quite matches knowing the exact number.

Weight

It may feel obvious to start with a 100 g braid that we will finish with a 100 g skein, but that is not always the case. Maybe the fibre had a bit of lanolin that washed out, or lost a few grams during prep, or while winding off the bobbin. Whatever the reason, it is common to lose a small amount. 

Yards Per Pound

By taking the yardage, dividing it by the weight, and multiplying by 454, we can calculate yards per pound. This tells us how dense our yarn is. Worsted yarns are more tightly packed, while woollen yarns are loftier with more air.

Measuring Twist

We see this done in a few ways: bumps per inch, twists per inch, and angle of twist. They all do the same thing, just slightly different ways; they all measure the twist in our yarn. Whichever method is chosen, consistency is key in how we record it.

Elasticity

Stretch the yarn over a ruler and measure how much it extends past the 10-inch marker. If it grows by one inch, some consider that 10 percent elasticity. The amount of tension and slack will affect results, and similar to checking our WPI, our measurements can differ from person to person. As long as we are consistent in how we measure this for ourselves, we will have a useful comparison over time.

Extras

We can include anything that feels useful for future reference. It is also helpful to note intended use if it is not already planned, such as “spun for hat or scarf, next to skin” or “best for durability and drape, like a table runner.”

Support & Resources

Having the right support helps when deciding if a yarn suits a project or how to adjust our spinning in the future.

School of SweetGeorgia

With over 20 spinning courses, ranging from fibre types and spin control to fibre prep and tools, there is something for everyone at the School of SweetGeorgia. Many of our courses dive deeper into each topic discussed in this post, allowing for more specific documentation in our projects.

SweetGeorgia + Co

Having a community to connect with is always helpful. Whether we are looking for answers or simply sharing a finished spin, support and encouragement can make a difference in our spinning journey. We hope you will join us at SweetGeorgia + Co.

Final Thoughts

Not everyone measures all of this. Choose what feels meaningful to you. You may find that yardage, weight, and WPI are enough, and maybe down the road, you add more. The goal is simply to offer guidance on what you might consider when recording your handspun yarn. This way, you can recreate yarns you love or adjust future results. Do what feels right for you. There is no single correct approach, only what works for you. Also, don’t forget to visit older project notes; you may see how your spinning changes over time! 

Free Handspun Records PDF Download

Below is a free Handspun Records PDF for you to download. One page is a full sheet for detailed notes, and the other includes mini tags to attach to your handspun yarn. You can use shorthand notes that reference your full sheet, or include as much information as you need on the tags. You may even choose to attach them to the fibre prep notes we shared a few months ago. We hope you find it helpful!

The post Recording Your Handspun Projects Shouldn’t Put You in a Twist appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

THE JULY CLUB COLOUR STORY

During the “lock down era”, my husband and his old high school friends individually invested in some virtual reality headsets so they could play ping pong with each other, remotely, trying to maintain friendships in interesting times. It was such a bizarre, science fiction way of trying to connect and stay in touch with others.

I played with the VR headset a bit as well and it gave me a completely different experience. I used the headset to take a virtual walking tour of the highest peaks in Switzerland, mimicking the walk from hut to hut, occasionally peering to one side to see down the mountain to look at the view. What a weird simulation of the world. Never did I imagine that I would visit these places “in the real” (aka in real life or “IRL”), but this July I’ll be in Switzerland to experience real vistas in real daylight, with real grass and rocks underfoot. I wonder how it will compare with my virtual fantasy of a Swiss hike?

This “Swiss Wish” colourway is what I imagine fresh alpine air, crisp lakes, and a cool breeze to be like in the summer. A pale, wispy veil of blue and green hues. This is how I translated my virtual reality into colour.

PROJECT IDEAS

Swiss Wish is hand-dyed on a special SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Light yarn base. It’s a gloriously glossy, lofty, and light fingering-weight yarn featuring the warm tones of tussah silk. Tussah silk is naturally a bit honey-gold in colour and blended together with a beautifully soft merino wool, this creates a yarn that takes dye well and transforms every hue into a warmer version.

This yarn feels so soft and amazing next to skin, it just yearns to be made into something like a scarf, shawl, or neckerchief—some small luxury that you could wear comfortably with an easy elegance. This month, we knit it into a simple, textured scarf—the Ginger Rib Scarf (a free download for SweetGeorgia + Co members)—and focused on trying to get a planned pooling effect with this colourway. Read more about the scarf at the project post »

My other big idea for this colourway would be weaving it “faux-Ikat” style. See our website for more details on how to use a handpainted colourway like this.

JOIN THE CLUB CONVERSATION

One of the fundamental beliefs we have at SweetGeorgia is that the colours we surround ourselves with can transform our experience of life. Whether you knit, crochet, weave, or something else, join us at our SweetGeorgia + Co community. We’d love to hear your thoughts on our Swiss Wish colourway and see what you make with it.

Thank you for following along with us for our colourful Secret Stash Club adventure. We’ll see you next month!

The post Secret Stash Club Reveal: Swiss Wish appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

THE SWISS WISH CLUB COLOURWAY

Our July 2026 Secret Stash Club colourway “Swiss Wish” is dedicated to the idea of making fantasy into reality. From the space between a pixelated mountain view and the promise of actual alpine air on skin. It’s a colour that carries the feeling of anticipation, of wishes on the verge of coming true.

Inspired by a virtual walking tour of the highest peaks in Switzerland, this month’s colourway is what Felicia imagines fresh alpine air, crisp lakes, and a cool breeze to be like in the summer. A pale, wispy veil of blue and green hues. Read more about the yarn at the colourway reveal post.

A COOL BREEZE YOU CAN WEAR

This month’s Club yarn is beautifully soft and calls to be made into something worn next to skin. Hand-dyed on a special SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Light base, this yarn is gloriously glossy, lofty, and light, featuring the warm tones of tussah silk.

We wanted an easy one-skein project with comfortable elegance and a chance to play with planned pooling. We chose Felicia’s Ginger Rib Scarf pattern (a free download for SweetGeorgia + Co members!), which features an easy rib variation. The result is a simple, textured scarf with a beautiful drape and a lovely movement of colour all along the way.

JOIN THE CLUB

We look forward to sharing more project inspiration with colourways we’ve concocted as part of our Secret Stash Club. Telling stories through our colours and sharing how we see the world, we hope you join us there!

Print

Ginger Rib Scarf in Secret Stash Club Yarn

Showcasing an easy rib variation, this simple scarf pattern is perfect for hand-dyed single skeins of yarn.

Craft Knitting

Maker Denise Parks

Designer Felicia Lo

Skill Level Beginner

Equipment

• 1 Circular Knitting Needles in size US 4 / 3.5 mm

Materials

• 1 skein SweetGeorgia Merino Silk Light in Swiss Wish

Instructions

• Download the Ginger Rib pattern from the SweetGeorgia shop.
• Cast on using the Club colourway. To aim for a planned pooling effect, sample knitter Denise cast on 26 stitches.
• Follow the scarf instructions knitting until your desired length, or leaving just enough yarn remaining for the bind off. Bind off all stitches as directed.
• Weave in ends and hand wash in cool water with a gentle wool wash. Roll in a towel to remove excess moisture, then lay flat to dry. Once dry, enjoy!

Notes

Pattern information from designer Felicia Lo:

An easy rib variation makes a lush and lofty scarf in beautiful merino and silk. Knit up quick on larger needles, this makes for a very simple one-skein gift.

The post Secret Stash Club Knitting: Ginger Rib appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.

Kim Werker is a publisher and CEO with over twenty years of experience in the crafts. She has written or co-authored seven books, edited many others, and previously founded an online crochet magazine. She also served as editor of Interweave Crochet and has taught and spoken at conferences across North America. In 2020, she co-founded Nine Ten Publications, which she now runs from her home in Vancouver, BC. 

Where to Find Nine Ten Publications

• Nine Ten Publications
• Nine Ten Publications Instagram
• Nine Ten Publications YouTube
• Nine Ten Publications Kickstarter

Thank You for Listening

Thank you for spending time with us in this episode! If you enjoyed it, we’d love for you to share it with your fellow fibre-loving friends. And if you’re enjoying the show, please consider leaving a rating and review on iTunes; it helps us reach more makers like you.

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Join Our Community!

• At the School of SweetGeorgia, we’ve built a vibrant and welcoming community of fibre-loving makers, passionate instructors, and dedicated staff. Whether you’re looking for guidance on a new technique or just need a little creative encouragement, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
• Not yet a member of the School? We invite you to come and see what it is all about! Use the code: EXPLORETHESCHOOL to save 15% on an All-Access monthly membership!
• We welcome you to join us at SweetGeorgia + Co. This is where we share projects that inspire, have fibre-filled conversations, host make-alongs, and participate in a variety of virtual meetings! We discuss all things knitting, crocheting, spinning, weaving, machine knitting, and more! 
• Want to stay in the loop? Subscribe to our newsletter! It’s a simple way to stay updated on what’s new at SweetGeorgia and the School of SweetGeorgia, catch up on the latest articles, watch new SweetGeorgia YouTube videos, and be a part of our community without any pressure to post. We value your presence, no matter how you choose to connect with us!

The post The SweetGeorgia Show // S6 E11: Nine Ten Publications appeared first on SweetGeorgia Yarns.