Category Archives: Fibre Arts

Fibre Arts Classes

Makealong: Summer Tops, 2022!

Summer is finally back, so we’re bringing back our popular makelong: Summer Tops!

If you’ve never done a makelong (knitalong, crochetalong, weavalong, what have you), then this is an excellent place to start. Our Summer Top MAL is a wide open topic. All you need to do to participate is start making a top for summer weather! That means it needs to meet our twofold criteria: that your top has a short sleeve (above the elbow) or no sleeve at all, and as always, your project needs to be using at least some yarn that was purchased from Yarns Untangled. That’s it! (For those scoring at home, this criteria is just slightly different from last year to make it a bit more broad and easy to understand.)

Here are some examples of summer tops that would be eligibile: a worsted weight wool tank top, a cotton/wool blend half-sleeve henley, a hemp sleeveless bathing suit coverup, etc. The possibilities are endless. And this year, we have a larger plant-based yarn lineup then we’ve ever had before, so this is a perfect opportunity to explore it!

(The pattern seen in the picture here is Baigneuses by Ateliere Emilie, and it can be purchased from their online store here! It would be a great choice for this MAL!)

We had a lot of fun during last year’s summer top MAL on the Yarns Untangled Discord server, so we will be active there again this year. You can participate by sharing your project journey with us there, or on Instagram. If you’re not set up with either, not to worry! We can help by sharing your project on our Instagram account!

The Knitty Gritty Details

  1. KAL begins on Wednesday, June 1st and ends on August 31st, 2022.
    (This means you can’t cast on for your first top until 12:01 in the morning on June 1st, but you can absolutely swatch in advance)
  2. Official KAL hashtag: #YUsummertopMAL2022
  3. Some of the yarn used in your project must be or have been purchased at Yarns Untangled, at some point (not necessarily during the KAL).
  4. In order to be entered, crafters must announce their chosen yarn and project on either the Discord server or on Instagram using the official hashtag #YUsummertopMAL2022 (if your account is private, please make sure we’re able to follow you so we can see your posts). Once finished, you must share at least one picture on either the Discord server or on Instagram. Don’t forget the hashtag or we can’t find you! If you’re not able to use either Discord or Instagram, just let us know and we’ll share your project on your behalf.

Discord: If you aren’t yet on our Discord server, join us now! It has been a quiet space for a few months, but it’ll soon be flooded with summer top talk. Here’s how to join:

  1. First, set up your account with Discord. There is an app you can download to your computer or phone, or if you prefer, you can simply use it in a browser. 
  2. Once your account is up an running, click here to join the YU Discord Server. There you will see our different text channels dedicated to WIPs, FOs, questions, and pattern support as well as the general channel for broad chatter, and the FAQs!

The Prizes!
Most tops made: an always fascinating category, it is really remarkable to see how many tops some of you can crank out in three months. The maker who knits, hooks, and/or weaves the most tops will receive a 15% off coupon for Yarns Untangled and a full year of membership with Digits and Threads, Canada’s premiere (and only!) fibre and textile arts and crafts online magazine!

Most different fibres used, total: as there are so many fibres that fit our criteria, this category is meant to inspire you to stretch your creativity and explore combinations of different fibres: cotton, linen, bamboo, hemp, silk, wool, nylon, and more are all eligible so show us what you got! The winner of this prize will receive a 2500 in Stash Cash ($25 value), a Soak Eco Wash Bag and a bottle of Soak Wash to help them care for all their FOs!

Most pictures shared: you can make just one top and still win this prize! Blow up our discord or your instagram feed (or both, it all counts!) with beautiful pics of your in-progress and finished tops. Every pic shared brings you closer to winning a 2000 in Stash Cash ($20 value) and a back issue of Pom Pom Quarterly*.

Random winner: chosen from all of the entered projects, this winner will receive 2000 in Stash Cash ($20 value) and a YU mug and tote bag.

That’s it! If you have any questions, post in the FAQ or help Discord channels, shoot us an email at info @ yarnsuntangled.com or give us a call at (416) 603-2338.

*For this prize, we’ll narrow it down to a large handful of issues and then you can choose between them.

The Secret History of Knitting, a documentary

One of my favourite things about working in a yarn shop and knitting in public is how many people will say, “knitting really is becoming popular, isn’t it?”  While this is true in part, we know that knitting has been popular on an off for many many years.  But how much do we really know about the history of this wonderful activity?

Last November, we were approached by a team who were in the process of filming a documentary about knitting for Makeful, a new channel “celebrating the maker community and the creation of one-of-a-kind, handmade goods.”  They had scheduled an interview with the brilliant Kate Atherley, who had suggested using Yarns Untangled as the locale for their chat.  After their shoot was over, the film company asked us if they could come and get a som footage of a few hours of the life in a yarn shop, for use as extra material in the knitting takeover of the Makeful channel.

After some back and forth, we landed on a Wednesday afternoon last month for the shoot.  The hope was that they would get some candid shots and long-form scenes of basic goings on, in kind of a slow-TV style, and we mean slow!  The crew was able to put together a full three hours of gorgeous material, including some lovely shots of our yarn for an experience they’re calling Knit Purl Knit: Three Hours in a Yarn Shop.  It aired last Sunday at 4pm on Makeful, in advance of the premier of the feature documentary, The Secret History of Knitting.

The feature documentary itself is a charming tour of the history of one of our very favourite pastimes.  The team interviewed some of the knitting world’s most interesting people.  We’re especially loving the cheeky Joyce Meader, historical hand knitter and author.  She seems like she’d be a great person to sit down and have a long chat with, and she’s just one of a plethora of fascinating artists, authors, and historians featured.  Learn about how knitting was used to send codes during World War II, the birth of The Sweater Curse, the relationship between technology and knitting, and the never-ending silliness surrounding knitting and gender.

It’s humbling to learn what a long line of fantastic knitters and traditions of which we are just a tiny part.  If you missed seeing The Secret History of Knitting, have no fear!  The full piece can now be seen on their website, bemakeful.com/television, or simply press play on the video below.  Watch for familiar faces, and leave a comment below telling us which part was your favourite, or tell us your own personal knitting history story.  And if you’ve got three hours to spare, stick around and watch Knit, Purl, Knit: Three Hours in a Yarn Shop afterward!