Bernat Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Membership Related Questions

1. Why do I need to sign up for a membership?
2. Why do I need to activate my membership?
3. Why can’t I activate my membership?
4. How do I start my e-newsletter subscription?
5. How do I unsubscribe from the e-newsletter?
6. What is your privacy policy?

Website Related Questions

1. How do I view / download free patterns?
2. Why do I need to download and install Adobe Reader?
3. Why am I not receiving your e-newsletters?
4. How do I order yarn online?
5. How do I find exactly what I'm looking for on the site?
6. Where can I find a particular yarn or pattern?

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet Related Questions

Top 10 Yarn Questions & Answers (pdf)

1. What is meant by "Gauge" or "Tension"? Must I use it?
2. Why do some yarns have a dye lot number while others have no dye lot?
3. Should I use circular needles instead of straight needles?
4. What does "double knitting" mean?
5. Is it okay to add a new ball of yarn in the middle of a row?
6. Should I decrease and increase at the beginning and end of the row?
7. Can I re-use yarn that I have ripped out of a project?
8. How do you convert inches to centimeters as needed in some instructions?
9. Where can I find out more about knitting and crocheting?
10. How do you set the dye in a yarn / garment to prevent the dye from coming off on hands and needles while working with it?
11. How do you block a garment?

Membership Related Questions

1. Why do I need to sign up for a membership?
Our free membership provides access to our library of free patterns as well as to our e-newsletter subscription which contains information about new yarns and patterns.

2. Why do I need to activate my membership?
Activation is required in order to verify that you are in fact the person who signed up for the membership and that you are the owner of the email address.
An activated membership allows you to view / download free patterns when logged in.
An activated membership allows you to subscribe to the newsletter so that it can be delivered to your email address. You may start and stop your subscription at any time by accessing your toolbox.

3. Why can’t I activate my membership?
Ensure the email address you signed up with is correct as this will be the address that the activation email will be sent to.

Check your “spam” folder if the Activation Email is not in your inbox.

Verizon e-mail accounts: Due to system incompatibilities, we are unable to send emails to Verizon email addresses. You may either sign up again using a non-Verizon email address to use the automated activation system or if you would prefer to continue using your Verizon email address, please call 1-888-368-8401 with the e-mail address, nickname, and password you signed up with and your membership will be activated over the phone. We are also unable to send newsletters to Verizon addresses.

4. How do I start my e-newsletter subscription?
Go to your member settings and select subscribe to newsletter.

5. How do I unsubscribe from the e-newsletter?
Go to your member settings and select unsubscribe to newsletter.

6. What is your privacy policy?
Please visit our Privacy Policy page to review our privacy policy.

Website Related Questions

1. How do I view / download free patterns?
Sign up and/or log in. Free patterns can be viewed / downloaded when you are logged into your membership account.

2. Why do I need to download and install Adobe Reader?
Our patterns are in PDF format and Adobe reader is required to view the pattern in PDF format. Download Adobe reader from www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

3. Why am I not receiving your e-newsletters?
Newsletters will be delivered to your email address after you activate your account and subscribe. Visit member settings page (www.bernat.com/member.asp) to subscribe or unsubscribe to e-newsletters.

A special note to Verizon email account holders - Unfortunately our emails do not get delivered to Verizon email accounts. Please use a non-Verizon email account to receive our e-newsletters.

4. How do I order yarn online?
On the yarn information page of each of our yarns, you can buy online through our e-tailer partners who stock our yarns and sell online.

5. How do I find exactly what I'm looking for on the site?
Visit the Site Map under the "Help" menu to see a text listing of all pages on the Bernat site.

6. Where can I find a particular yarn or pattern?
If you already know the name of the product you are looking for, use the Store Locator to find a retailer close to you that sells it. Be sure to enter more than one parameter (Postal/Zip Code, City, State/Province) and the yarn name (under "Products Carried") to ensure that you find the retailer closest to you.

If you would like to find an E-tailer (on-line store), be sure to enter your country and choose 'Find Etailers'.

If you are looking for a new yarn or pattern, look at Our Yarns or Pattern Books for inspiration.

Yarn, Knitting and Crochet Related Questions

1. What is meant by "Gauge" or "Tension"? Must I use it?
Gauge or Tension refers to the number of stitches to the inch (horizontally) and the number of rows to the inch (vertically) that you will need to obtain when knitting or crocheting. If you do not check your gauge against the one provided on the ball band or pattern, your garment will not come out to the right size. You may find that if you knit or crochet loosely or more tightly, you may have to use a needle or hook one size smaller or larger than the pattern specifies to achieve the correct gauge/tension. It doesn't matter what size needle or hook you use as long as your gauge swatch has the same number of stitches and rows per inch as specified in the pattern.

2. Why do some yarns have a dye lot number while others have no dye lot?
Some yarns are dyed after spinning. They are dyed in large batches with each batch assigned a dye lot number. It is important to use balls from the same dye batch to avoid the disappointment of minor color variances in your finished project.

'No Dye Lot' yarns are spun from fiber that is already colored. These yarns are purchased in very large quantities and spun into different weights. There is a production date on these balls of yarn, and it is best to purchase enough yarn for your project with the same date on them.

3. Should I use circular needles instead of straight needles?
It is really up to you. Circular needles are more versatile as you can use them to knit 'in the round' or 'back and forth' like straight needles. Many people claim that they are also more comfortable to use.

4. What does "double knitting" mean?
Double Knitting is actually a weight of yarn like worsted, fingering or sport. It knits at a gauge of 5.5 stitches to the inch. It does not mean that you are required to knit with two strands doubled together at the same time.

5. Is it okay to add a new ball of yarn in the middle of a row?
The problem with joining ends of yarn in the middle of a row is that you risk having your knot come undone or popping out the front of your garment. For the amount of yarn that you save, it is not worth it. It is best to add new balls of yarn at the edges of your work.

6. Should I decrease and increase at the beginning and end of the row?
When increasing or decreasing, make sure you do so between the first and last stitches on a row or according to the pattern instructions.

7. Can I re-use yarn that I have ripped out of a project?
You may re-use yarn that you rip out of a project but try to get the "kinks" or wrinkles out of it first. Steaming with an iron or blocking will work: wrap the yarn around a large, flat piece of cardboard and then apply steam or lay a very damp towel over board and let dry. Never apply an iron directly to the yarn.

8. How do you convert inches to centimeters as needed in some instructions?
To convert inches to centimeters, multiply the inches by 2.54 and round to the closest half centimeter.

9. Where can I find out more about knitting and crocheting?
Several web sites offer online instructions, educational pages and message boards where you can ask questions about knitting and crocheting. Visit Our Links page for a list.

10. How do you set the dye in a yarn / garment to prevent the dye from coming off on hands and needles while working with it?
Knit your project, and soak it in a solution of the following: 1-2 cup PICKLING SALT and COLD WATER. Set for half an hour. Rinse THOROUGHLY in water. Soak again in VINEGAR and WATER. Set for half an hour. Rinse THOROUGHLY.

11. How do you block a garment?
Pin garment pieces to measurements and cover with damp cloth leaving cloth to dry.