Somewhere, maybe even here, in my home town of Iowa City, Iowa, there's a neuroscientist at work, mapping out the peculiar nerve pathways inside a knitter's brain. Once completed, we might finally have a guide to understanding the odd journeys we knitters occasionally embark on. Like this summer, for instance, a summer of oppressive heat and drought, when I found myself pondering washcloths.

Usually we think of washcloths as gaugeless, "gauge not important." But what does "gauge unimportant" really mean? That any gauge will do? Should we just follow the ball band's recommendation? Or, do we cast on the stated amount of stitches on whatever needles we have around and proceed with confidence? After all, it is a washcloth, however it turns out, it will still be useful? Right?

Continue reading.

For the last 10 weeks, we've been featuring designs from 75 Seashells, Fish, Coral & Colorful Marine Life to Knit & Crochet by Jessica Polka. Find all of these designs and more motifs, trims, and stitches in our StitchFinder library.

Win Your Own Copy!
Five winners will receive a FREE copy of this whimsical ocean-themed pattern book so that they create their own aquatic wonderlands, courtesy of St. Martin's Griffin.

Enter now.

Nothing says luxury like 100% percent Italian-milled cashmere. LB Collection Cashmere is a classic DK-weight yarn, perfect for accessories, garments, and heirloom gifts that you'll treasure for years to come.

From now through August 22, get this beautiful, supremely-soft yarn for only $12.

See colors & order.