Dear KnitBits® Subscribers,
Today Berroco introduces 2 new glam yarns. You can find them in your local yarn shop just in time for the holidays. Suede™ Deluxe is a special issue Suede-type ribbon with a golden chain down the center. Icon™ is a cut ribbon, with one side a supple metallic and the other a sheer black or white fabric. Our design team has created beautiful garments and accessories including Gemma, an entrance-making beginner knitter's shawl and coordinating tank top. It's the perfect set to wear to your holiday events. In addition, we offer two unique pieces of costume jewelry: Jingle and Jangle, a pair of bangle bracelets covered in Icon. These bracelets are perfect last minute gift ideas. Do you have someone on your gift list who is impossible to please? A young fashionista with champagne taste who craves the latest and best in designer handbags? You can start now and knit her Felicity, our new favorite shoulder bag that is knit and crocheted and fastened with solid brass findings from the local hardware store. Today, all of these patterns are yours for free. You need only purchase the yarn and findings and print out our detailed instructions. You will not only have cutting edge fashion accessories, you will save hundreds of dollars by making them yourself.

These days many of us are thinking about the perfect gifts and struggling with our budgets. It's wonderful to be able to make your own fashions. It's even better to give the ones you love fashion perfect gifts that you have made by hand. Nothing says more about your fashion savvy than the hippest accessories. In all the magazines and fashion media, nothing upstages the hand or shoulder bag of the moment. With price tags upwards of $1000, the foolish shopper will go into debt to be seen carrying the right one. High end handbag designers have drawn inspiration from brass hardware this season. Once again, in high end fashion, the difference is in the details. Berroco has it all.



Charlene from Baltimore wrote to say: "I am 20 years old and a new knitter. I really enjoy knitting scarves because I can be creative with yarns and I don't have to follow patterns. I know how to cast on, bind off, knit, purl, yarn over, knit 2 together and twist cables. But still, I find knitting instructions very intimidating. I try to read them and they make no sense to me. I am a visual learner and I find this frustrating. I really love knitting and I want to learn more. Do you have any tips on decoding knitting instructions?"

Charlene, this very issue has been on my mind lately. Yes, some knitters find our instructions confusing. If you are the type of thinker that needs to get the entire picture before beginning your project, you must learn to let go and follow instructions word for word. I myself have had experience with this problem. I would much rather design and knit my own sweater than follow a knitting instruction. But if you want to knit something from an instruction, I recommend that you approach it like a recipe from your mother's cookbook. First you gather all the materials, choose the proper needle size to knit your stitch gauge swatch. Determine the size you want to make and circle all the numbers that refer to that size. Then begin, following the instructions word by word being careful not to lose your place. A ruler or straight edge helps me keep my place. You can look up any abbreviations or knitting terminology in our glossary. Many new knitters find that it is a great idea to get together regularly with a group of knitting friends. They swap ideas and teach each other techniques. Here they find help with their individual problems. If you are a book learner, I recommend you read some of the classic Elizabeth Zimmerman. One of my favorites is Knitting Without Tears. There is so much to learn and so much to invent. Don't be discouraged. If you are someone who can create from the inspiration in our photographs, then I recommend that you pursue your gift of design and follow your muse.