June is for Jag

Continuing with 2008: A Year in Scarves... we have June is for Jag. This scarf was knit with one skein of Tilli Tomas in Pure and Simple (Glazed Ginger) on size 6 needles. The tag for this yarn recommends a size 8, but I am a loose knitter so I went down two sizes to get the look I wanted for the scarf. Please keep that in mind when you go to knit it up yourself! It is also easily customizable by adding to or subtracting from the cast-on number.



The pattern is available for download here, and the Ravelry pattern page is here.

On a personal note, I am flattered by the response this scarf has already received on Ravelry. I posted the pattern notes on Friday morning, and it's already been favorited 92 times and is in 80 queues. If you are one of the people who has said they love it, or added it to your list, or one of the people who has already cast on for it-- thank you! I am immensely flattered!

What's that? Prism yarns for $10?

That's right! Right now we have marked Prism Biwa and Prism Twig down to only $10/skein! What we have is all we have, so grab it while you can!

Biwa is a 100% rayon DK weight yarn which can be hand washed and dried flat. Biwa is a boucle yarn with medium sized boucles spaced about every inch with a subtle sheen. Biwa would be great for anything from small projects like hats and scarves to larger projects like shawls and sweaters. This yarn is available in many variegated colors.
80% cotton/20% nylon
68 yards per 1 oz skein
3 stitches per inch on US #11 needle

Twig is a worsted weight yarn. Soft nylon slubs are woven with plied yarn that ends in eyelashes. The slubs are matte and the eyelashes are shiny. It can be hand washed and dried flat. This yarn can be used to make scarves, sweaters, vests, shawls and jackets. Available in variegated colors.
65% nylon/35% rayon
82 yards/28 grams
18-20 sts/4 inches on a US 6-8 needle

Friday Five: Five photos of Karen's Clapotis

Our lovely friend Karen - who lives across the pond - sent us the absolutely stunning and gorgeous Clapotis that she has knitted up, to show off in the shop for a few months. What did she want in return? Not fame, not fortune (though she is a wonderful, lovely person and deserves both); but all she requested in return are photos. So for today's Friday five, we give you... five photos of this luscious wrap!

Upcoming Class List

Classes fill up quickly; please reserve your space early by paying in advance
All classes limited to five people; and a minimum of 2 students is required for most classes to take place – some classes may require a higher minimum, please call or email us for more information. If the minimum for a class is not reached, we will cancel or reschedule the class and a full refund will be given.

Holidays in July!

Knit a Santa
July 2 and 9, 2008 (Wednesdays)
6-8 PM | $50 | Materials Included

Needle Felted Holiday Ornaments
Saturday July 5, 2008
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $25 | Materials Included

Knitted Holiday Ornaments
Saturday July 5, 2008
2-5 PM | $25 | Materials Included*

Introduction to Dyeing Yarn in Holiday Colors
July 12 and 19, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $50 | Materials Included

Knit a Stocking
July 12, 19, and 26, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $50 | Materials Included**
(Three people minimum for this class)

Knit Carpet Bag
July 12, 19, and 26, 2008 (Saturdays)
2-5 PM | $100 | Materials Included*

Knit Backpack
July 16, 23, and August 6, 2008 (Wednesdays)
6-8 PM | $75 | Materials Included*

* Required for this class is the book Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick and Susan Pittard; copies, which are not included in the price of the class, may be purchased during class for a discounted price

** Required for this class is the book Knit Christmas Stockings! by Gwen Steege; copies, which are not included in the price of the class, may be purchased during class for a discounted price


Classes for August and September!

Knitting 101: Learn the Basics in 3 Hours
Saturday August 2, 2008
or
Saturday September 6, 2008
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $25 | Materials Included

Intro to Knitting 1 (The Knit Stitch)
August 2, 9, 16, and 23, 2008 (Saturdays) 2-5 PM
or
August 27, September 3, 10, and 17, 2008 (Wednesdays) 6-8 PM
$100 | Materials Included

My First Knitted Hat
August 11 and 18, 2008 (Mondays)
or
September 11 and 18 (Thursdays)
6-8 PM | $65 | Materials Included

Introduction to Dyeing Yarn
August 9 and 16, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $50 | Materials Included

Introduction to Entrelac
August 16 and 23, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $50 | Materials Included

Introduction to Cables, Slipped, & Twisted Stitches
Saturday August 30, 2008
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $25 | Materials Included

Knitting a Top-Down Raglan Sweater
August 30, September 6, 13, and 20, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Price/Materials TBA

Sock Knitting using Double Pointed Needles
September 13, 20, and 27, 2008 (Saturdays)
10:30 AM – 1:30 PM | $75 | Materials Included

Blue Heron yarns, 20% off!

Not to put stuff on sale and then take two days of, but... Blue Heron is 20% off for the next two weeks (prices shown on the website are the discounted price)! We don't have much, so grab it while you can! And don't forget we're closed for the next two days, so anything purchased on our website or any email you send us over Monday or Tuesday will be taken care of first thing on Wednesday.

Thanks, y'all!

Memorial Day Holiday Hours

We will be closed for Memorial Day on Monday, May 26th; we will reopen on Wednesday, May 28th. We will be unable to process any orders placed on our online shop over Monday and Tuesday, but as soon as we get back to work Wednesday we will happily process all orders and answer all email!

We will be open our regular hours on Saturday and Sunday.

Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!

Creative Knitting Magazine

Today we received a new magazine to our shop, Creative Knitting. If some of the more complicated patterns in Interweave Knits and Vogue Knitting intimidate you, this is the perfect magazine for you to try!

There are a whopping 25 patterns included, along with technique articles on knitting with beads, the SSK stitch, short rows, and duplicate stitch. The instructions for each pattern begin on the page showing the completed object, then continue in the back of the magazine. Most patterns are rated easy or intermediate. There are no yarn recommendations used, but a yarn weight (sport, worsted, etc.) and gauge are given. Knit up in a cotton or rayon, these simple, elegant patterns are perfect for Florida summer knitting!

The Hanks Question of the Week

I'm pretty sure we've previously talked about clubs and how y'all feel about them, but let's revisit!

The reason?

How would y’all feel about us offering a sock club?

We’d offer the club for a year, with one new colorway every other month (so, a total of six colorways). There’d be two ways to join - one option for all six, and an option for two sets of three (that way someone who didn’t have a lot of time, or wasn’t a fast knitter, could join for a three-shot).

It wouldn’t be limited to in-store; we would offer it on our website as well, so that our regulars who are far away could have a chance to join.

The price would be for just the yarn (maybe some swag). We would not do the yarn-and-pattern thing together. I don't know about y'all, but I feel a tremendous guilt if I don't like the pattern, or that colorway with that pattern, and don't want to knit it up-- and we don't want anyone to feel that way! Maybe next year if the club is popular and we get requests; but not for this first one.

Our ulterior motive would be for testing out new colorways for things to later offer in the shop, and also new/different base yarns. We would be asking for feedback on (if you like them we’d offer them in the shop after the club is over; if you don’t like them, hey– exclusive yarn for you!), how the yarn works up, and that sort of thing. In order to encourage feedback, we would offer prizes for a variety of things that we haven’t yet set in stone (best percentage of yarns worked up, best self-designed pattern, etc.).

So… we’re not asking for firm sign-ups right this second, but is this idea something that you’d find interesting?

Friday Five: Five things to do with sock yarn scraps

Have a few yards, or quite a few yards, left over from that pair of socks? Here are some things you can do with it -

1. There's a pattern in the new Little Box of Socks (we're out right now but should be getting it back in soon) that is for a pair of socks made with one solid color and many spare ball ends. It's sort of a honeycomb look, and believe me it's on my list to try out!

2. Cupcakes are cute, and also a good way to use up those odd buttons from random sewing projects!



3. Macrame bracelets or necklaces, with beads on them. Like the hemp ones that all the cool kids wear, only made from sock yarn (which makes them even more cool)!

4. Mitered Square afghans (I hope Knitting Gnome doesn't mind if I link to hers on Ravelry).

5. You could make the cutest baby booties of all time; Saartje's Bootees.

The Hanks Question of the Week

If you over-buy for a project - not by much, maybe by a skein - what do you do with the rest? Are you like me and you have an entire bin filled with half- and three-quarter sized balls of yarn that you're planning to do... something ... with? Someday? Personally I've found baby garments to be a great use of these ball ends, but... am I the only one who does this? Are there people who just throw them out or donate them?

Friday Five: Five reasons why Sharon isn't around this week

You may have noticed that Sharon has been mysteriously absent this week. Here are five reasons (four of them not true) why she might be gone...

1. She has been abducted by Aliens (the Boo'Klay race) and forced into slave labor on the fourth Moon around the planet Akrillik.
2. She has gone to beautiful West Virginia for a yearly family visit.
3. She is finally having knee surgery and can't get off the couch.
4. Her husband started knitting, raided her stash, and now she's in jail for clubbing him senseless.
5. She's decided to let go of all her earthly possessions and is now barefoot and dirty, following a Grateful Dead cover band from city to city, selling peanut butter sandwiches to survive.

Ahem.

Anyone have anything they'd like to see as a Friday Five...? Clearly I'm running low on topics.

May is for Ari

Continuing with 2008: A Year in Scarves... we have May is for Ari. Ari is the twin sister of my now five-year-old god-daughter (who was the inspiration for last month's scarf), and of course she is also very into pink! Although the girls are twins, they aren’t identical. So just like Ari being both skinnier and taller than her sister, the May scarf is thinner and longer than April’s scarf. They are both, however, made from the same yarn (the scarves, not the sisters) and have very similar stitch patterns. Similar, but not exactly alike.



The pattern is available for download here, and the Ravelry pattern page is here.

Dream in Color; Classy!

We have a new line we'd like to introduce you to: Dream in Color's Classy.




Classy is a 100% Superwash Merino, and is 250 yards to the 4-ounce hank. It has a suggested gauge of 18 sts/4 inches on a US #7 - 8, and the cost is $18.00.

Prism Twig on sale!

Starting today and running for the next week (through Tuesday 5/13) Prism Twig is on sale for 20% off!

Twig is a worsted weight yarn. Soft/nylon slubs are woven with plied yarn that ends in eyelashes. The slubs are matte and the eyelashes are shiny. It can be hand washed and dried flat. This yarn can be used to make scarves/sweaters/vests/shawls and jackets. Available in variegated colors.

65% nylon/35% rayon
82 yards/28 grams
18-20 sts/4 inches on a US 6-8 needle
Regular price: $16.00
Sale price: $12.80

Drumroll, please....!

It's Wednesday, the first Wednesday of our two-week bug contest on our new online shop. And that means... time to draw a name!

Not too many names in there, which is good for us (it means there aren't too many bugs, right?) and good for you (better chance of getting your name drawn, right?). But I don't want to be the one who draws the name - and Sharon is on vacation. Oh no! Who can help me...?


All hail the UPS Man, for he brings us lovely yarn... and pulls names out of the "hat".


Fredda, you're our lucky winner this week! I've already sent you an email, and you're good to go. Congratulations! And if your name wasn't pulled... don't worry... there's always next week!

The Hanks Question of the Week

Solids? Variegated? Self-striping? Semi-solid? Hand-painted? What sorts of colorways do you prefer to work with?

Prism Biwa on sale!

Did we mention that Prism Biwa is on sale until Tuesday night?

Biwa is a 100% rayon DK weight yarn (Light/#3) which can be hand washed and dried flat. Biwa is a boucle yarn with medium sized boucles spaced about every inch with a subtle sheen and would be great for anything from small projects like hats and scarves to larger projects like shawls and sweaters.

80% cotton/20% nylon
68 yards per 1 oz skein
3 stitches per inch on US #11 needle
Regular price: $14.50
Sale price: $11.60

Friday Five: Five things we've learned from sock knitting

1. We don't buy sock yarn that matches our clothes; we buy sock yarn that matches our hearts.
2. Matching doesn't necessarily mean identical.
3. We know going into it that if we're knitting these socks for a gift, there is a 100% chance that the gift will eventually be worn out -- and we're okay with that.
4. We are convinced that as we knit socks for a sick friend, the love and pieces of ourselves that we put into the knitting will keep our loved ones from further illness.
5. It's okay to make mistakes; nothing that goes wrong is all that earth-shattering, and anyway, it'll probably be hidden by your shoes.

On the gravitational pull of cuteness

And that should be enough, right? Should I even tell you about this? Because I think the cuteness factor alone is enough to make you want to pick it up and snuggle it.

One of our fabulous customers (I know, that narrows it down, right?) knit this up in about four days. It's a kit from Prism based on a pattern in the new Stuff 6 book. The kit retails for $130 (buying the items individually could run up to $150), and contains a full skein of Cool, Wild, or Neat Stuff in the color of your choice, a skein of Angora, the pattern, and a handy carrying case for working on the project. You'll have to provide your own stuffing and eyes, but the cuteness level seems to be inherent in the project.