About Yarn and Knitting

Here is the beautiful Fluo Flow shawl, a design by Joji Locatelli published in Vogue Knitting. The pattern shown above was knitted with several varieties of fingering yarns from our hand-dyed collection!   To make this pattern, here are the yarns and colors used   2 skeins of Bis-Sock Nature 1 skein of Bis-Sock Limette 1 skein of Fizwizbiz Bonbon 1 skein of Fizwizbiz Aqua 1 skein of Sirius Purple 419   Get this pattern published in the Vogue Knitting Late Winter 2020 magazine or directly on the Vogue Knitting website by clicking on the following link FLUO FLOW BY JOJI LOCATELLI. 

Speckled yarns are hugely popular right now. They have a solid color and contrasting or complimentary flecks of color throughout. Some knitters think speckled yarns are simply a fad that they’ll regret almost as much as people regret buying MC Hammer pants. Most yarn lovers, however, are completely taken by the beautiful creations they can work up using speckled yarn. It truly is a unique look that can’t be created any other way. With the cool weather fast approaching, it’s the perfect time to work up a sweater, shrug, or shawl with some gorgeous speckled yarn. (Even the leaves get speckled this time of year!) Speckled Shawl Not only is there some great color opportunities using speckled yarn to make this shawl, there’s fabulous texture and shaping with the different stitch work used. Combined, you wind up with a truly unique pieces that shows off your skill and personality. Being a fan of all things purple, I think it would be amazing in the hand-dyed grape speckled yarn, but this blue would look really cool too.  We also have the new Byzantine shawl knitting kit to use our DK Pure speckled yarn mixed with self-striping and semi-solid colorway! Hoodie Cardigan Cardigans and hoodies are great this time of year. A hoodie cardigan made with speckled yarn? Perfection! Mix and match different yarns to create a look all your own. The cool blue Caribbean combines well with the darker blues of Firmament. Or pick your favorite colors to show off your personality and style.     Speckled Shrug I love shrugs because they’re warm and cozy, but not too hot. They’re great for this time of year when the days start and end cool, but are still warm in between. Using an amazing speckled yarn turns this simple shrug from boring to amazing! How great would it look done up in Vitrail? The bright colors will add some cheer to any rainy, cloudy days, too! Plus, look for this new knitting kit to be launched shortly: the Cupcake Shrug is knitted with self-striping, semi-solid and #SpeckledYarn as well ♥ Multi-Function Wrap This wrap is not only elegant, it transforms from a wrap to a scarf and back again with ease. Combine a speckled yarn with a dark background color and one with a light background color to create a wonderful, warm piece that works with almost anything in your closet. We love these ideas for using speckled yarn so much, we’re saying bring on the cold! We’ve got our warm, fashionable clothing covered.

Sock yarn, self-striping yarn, knitting patterns – oh my. Prior to knitting, yarn was just yarn but as you start to indulge in this new hobby, you’ll quickly see that there is no shortage of options when it comes to materials. With baskets overflowing with all kinds of yarn, it can be difficult to know where to start. Fortunately, you’ve come to the right place. Here is a breakdown all of the different types of yarn and what each will do for your knitting aspirations. Sock Yarn For Feet Just as the name reads, sock yarns are for the kind of knitting designs you intend to be placed on feet. More specifically, this term refers to the weight of the yarn. You wouldn’t use the same yarn for a chunky knit sweater as you would for a pair of socks and that’s because of the way the material needs to fit. The most common sock yarns are DK weight, fingering weight and worsted weight, and they can typically be found in any fiber you desire. So, whether you want to craft some bulky winter knee socks, hiking socks or soft, traditional socks, sock yarn is where to go.   Self Striping Yarn For a Colourful Change Throughout our yarn website, you’ll hear a lot about self-striping yarn and that’s because it’s a huge trend. Self-striping yarns are yarns that have various colours woven together to create a stylish appeal. The colours change throughout the knitting designs, allowing every piece you create to be unique in its own way. Self-striping yarns are often used to create scarves, socks, hats, mitts, blankets – you name it. Hand Dyed Yarn for True Handmade Creations You’ll also come across several hand-dyed yarn varieties. These are excellent knitting materials for the true artisan out there, as each piece of yarn may not be identical to the next even if they come from the same dye. This is important to know if you intend to knit 100% identical pieces. The benefit of using this type of yarn is that it emits exquisite, hand-crafted beauty that you simply can’t get from brick and motor stores and products.   Yarns from Animals Yarns come from many different places, and some are even made with animal-based fibers from sheep (as the merino wool), llamas, goats (cashmere and mohair), alpacas, etc. Each has their own unique characteristics and softness. However, it’s important to know what type of animal the yarn is made of, as this can instantly determine whether or not you want to use it. For example, you may not want to use animal based yarns that are produced unethically and unnaturally from animals such as rabbits and foxes. This is a very important thing to consider, especially if you’re knitting for profit. Everyone appreciates yarns that are naturally provided by animals, such as wool from sheep, but the same can’t be said for all the rest.  Plant Producing Yarns Plants are also great sources of yarn that don’t harm the environment in any way.  These are a huge trend in today’s knitting industry, as people are starting to prefer natural, safe materials as opposed to synthetic ones. Some common types of natural plant-based yarns include cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk & seacell. Each have their own level of softness, which can help you determine which one is best for your knitting designs. Synthetic Fibers is Great for Starters While synthetic fibers aren't always the most common type of yarns used today, they still hold precedence and can be perfect for your knitting designs. These types of yarns are typically acrylic, which is an inexpensive and machine washable option, making them ideal for many knitting designs. They’re also a great yarn to start with if you’re a knitting beginner. And that’s not even getting into the true depth of the different varieties of yarn available across the industry. From speckled yarns to solid tones, lace to bulky yarn weight, everything you need to knit up your knitting designs can be found on Biscotte Yarns. Join our mystery yarn club today and enjoy new yarn to turn into a unique knitting patterns on the regular. You just never know what you're going to unravel.  NEWBIE KNITTER? Find more info about Knitting yarn types, knitting stitches and other resources for beginners on eKnittingStitches.com

  Behind every knitter is a giant basket full of yarns, knitting designs, and needles. As the knitting industry grows, with crochet fashion styles and yarn crafts coming into trend, there’s no better time to indulge in this hobby. What was once reserved for retired grandmas is now a modern day trend every age is enjoying. However, as a beginner it can be hard to know where to start. So, allow this to be your beginners guide to everything you need to know about knitting.    The Amount of Yarn to Buy It can be difficult to gauge how much yarn you need to buy for each knitting design, even if you’ve been knitting for years. Fortunately, all of the knitting designs on Biscotte Yarns tell you exactly what you need to create the masterpiece shown. In fact, each knitting pattern clearly describes the type and amount of yarn needed as well as the knitting needles required. So, all that’s left to do is channel your inner creativity and put your craft into action. This is important Biscotte Yarns benefit. When knitting designs don’t come with information about the type and amount of yarn, it makes the entire creation process significantly harder. So, we make sure the only thing you have to do is weave.    Easiest Knitting Designs for Starters Ask any knitter and they’ll tell you the easiest knitting designs to start with are hats and scarves. Whether it’s a patterned hat, ear warmers, headbands, long scarf, short scarf or something in between, this is where every beginner should perfect their craft. Hats and scarves are typically round or straight, making them the easiest knitting designs out there. However, it’s important to stick with the most basic of styles because like everything in life, hats, and scarves can also be very complex depending on the specific style. In other words, a standard scarf is going to be much easier to make than a ruffle scarf. So, stick with the simple staples first.   The Different Types of Yarn Not all yarns are created equally, and it’s important to know the materials you’ll be using within your knitting designs. While each knitting patterns available on Biscotte Yarns come with clear instructions, including the type of yarn to use, substitutions can often be made. This is important information to have, especially if you’re knitting something for someone with sensitive skin, fabric allergies or a specific lifestyle. For example, it’s probably a bad idea to knit with animal-based fibers such as wool if you’ll be gifting your creation to someone who is vegan. So, pay attention to the different types of yarn. Take the time to learn, feel and knit with several varieties, so you can understand each better. This will also allow you to easily implement substitutions as needed.    The Knack of Knitting Needles Along with baskets overflowing of knitting yarn and tabletops covered with knitting designs, you’ll also see the industry also has just as many knitting needles to choose from. If you have no idea where to start, read the instructions provided with Biscotte Yarns knitting designs, as the specific needle you need to knit up each masterpiece is carefully described. However, if you’re eager to purchase some knitting needles today, start with a medium size needle and medium yarn. These are the perfect and most comfortable size of knitting needles for beginners to weave up an incredible creation.    As you perfect your knitting patterns and learn more about the knitting craft as a whole, you’ll be able to move onto more complex knitting designs and materials. However, to ensure a positive transition from amateur to expert, start slowly and focus in on the small details before heading into the next level. You should definitely join our Mystery Yarn Club, where we send unique yarns and knitting designs to you bimonthly. It’s like Christmas every other month. So, join today and start knitting.

With a quick look at the knitting designs available on Biscotte Yarns, you’ll see an abundance of things you can create. The knitting industry has taken over with a storm. It’s no longer a hobby for little old ladies in nursery homes. It’s now a trend that all ages are enjoying and the fashion industry is following en suit. However, knitting isn't the only thing you can do with the vast selection of yarns available. So, channel your inner creativity. Here are the amazing types of needlework you can do to turn your craft into a masterpiece.   Applique Needlework Applique is a term used within the knitting industry that describes the process of creating art with different pieces of fabric. It dates back to ancient times and is a great type of needlework to create decorative pieces. As each bit of fabric is applied to another, a unique, stunning art form is created. Applique is applied to all types of items as well, from clothing to quilts, hats, mitts, scarfs and even household accessories. So, if you’re looking to really channel your inner creativity, applique needlework is definitely for you.   Crocheting Take a look on any boho chic fashion site and you’ll see crochet styles. It’s a form of knitting that involves inter-looping your yarn with a hooked needle. Crocheting also dates back several centuries and is coming back this year with a vengeance. People are wearing all sorts of crochet cardigans, crochet sweaters, crochet accessories – you name it. So, if you’re interested in creating a fashion ensemble, it’s time to put up some yarn and hook needles. Bead Embroidery As you perfect your knitting craft, you’ll be able to apply several different elements to take your yarn to a new level of style. Bead embroidery is the process of apply beads to your fabric. As you can imagine, the possibilities are endless as there are just as many bead choices as there are fabric and yarn selections. So, this is a great type of needlework for anyone looking to create artistic, personalized pieces.   Hand Embroidery Despite the name being similar to the prior, hand embroidery is quite different. By hand, you decorate a piece of fabric with yarn to create a unique, artistic item. This is often seen in knit sweaters and scarfs. So, with a needle and some yarn, you would sew it into the knitting designs to create a unique item.   Knitting Knitting is certainly the most common form of needlework which involves two needles and some yarn. It is also an ancient art form that used to be associated with little old ladies and a rocking chair. However, knitting is a modern day sensation and all generations are starting to get involved with this hobby that allows them to express themselves creatively.    Needlepoint A type of needlework often forgotten about that involves yarn is needlework. Unlike knitting, you do need a specific tapestry needle and an open weave canvas to make these kinds of art. However, the options are endless and incredibly artistic. By covering the surface of your canvas with your choice of yarn. You can create a vast array of patterns, designs, and masterpieces.    There’s a common misconception that knitting only involves yarn or that yarn is only used for knitting. While various types of yarn are commonly the main component of such art pieces, there are several different types of needlework that can take your knitting to the next level. So, if you’re ready to put these types of needlework into action, it’s time to shop some knitting kits, knitting designs and needles.   Don’t forget to join our Mystery Yarn Club and enjoy new knitting designs and yarns on a bimonthly basis. Life is a like a box of yarn, you just never know what you’re ‘gon get.