Karla's List

My turn to list some of my favorite yarns. (Deb says I can only pick 2 per week or the readers might get bored.) I really only knit lace these days so my favorites are all in the fingering to lace weight category.

Anything by Fleece Artist. (So what, I cheated a little.) I especially like the Sea Wool for shawls. You can see one of my favorite lace shawls in the shop. The colors are fantastic and the hand is very nice.

I also love the Blue Sky Alpaca Silk (50% Alpaca/ 50% Silk) and the Classic Elite Alpaca Sox (60% Alpaca/20% Merino/20% Nylon). I really like the sheen and drape of silk blend yarns.

Karla

Faye's Favorites

Deb's blog about color started me thinking about my favorite fibers for knitting. Wool in all its many types has always been a favorite, but my 2 favorite "blended" yarns are Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy and Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk. Much of my knitting is lace in it's every variety and I know that these two yarns, as dissimilar as they are, will meet my needs.

Jaggerspun Zephyr Wool-Silk is fine lace weight yarn composed of 50 percent merino and 50 percent Tussah silk. The merino lends each project a wonderful softness and the silk gives the yarn a luxurious and subtle shine. The addition of silk to this yarn gives it strength in addition to sheen and softness. I've knit everything from a wedding shawl to Estonian lace to a beautiful christening blanket from this yarn. And their colors are wonderfully rich. I always have at least 3 or 4 balls in my stash. My dream is to own every single color. Jaggerspun Zephyr is also a great buy at ~1250 yarns for $18.25.


Elsebeth Lavold's Hempathy is at the other end of my lace knitting. A hemp, cotton, modal blend ( yes it is the only yarn with cotton I will knit with), Hempathy is workhorse yarn for many projects. A feature of any yarn with hemp is that it will soften with every washing, and the cotton/modal addition adds even more softness. Lacy summer tops are perfect for Hempathy, as are shawls. Each time I wear my Old Shale lace shawl at the shop customers are amazed to hear that it is knit from Hempathy. Comments range from "But it's so soft" to "You can knit lace with Hempathy?" My favorite quick-to-knit gift is a Hempathy lace face cloth and sachet . At $7.25 for 153 yards, Hempathy is a great bargain. (Deb loves it, too!)

Keep these yarns in mind as you plan your summer knitting. Tops for summer, lace shawls for cool nights, and perhaps an early start on Christmas knitting.

Cookie A and Lana Grossa

We are THRILLED to have Cookie A. coming to the shop in June to teach her Top Down Sock Design workshop. In celebration of this event, we would like to offer a 25% discount on all Lana Grossa sock yarn to any student that signs up and pays in full for Cookie's class from now to May 13th. We have lots of great Lana Grossa yarns to choose from including Seta/Cashmere, Marmi, Meeting, Stile, Fantasy and many more.

Top Down Sock Design
Sunday, June 28th
Class from 3 - 6 pm
cost: $40

Book signing social from 6 - 7:30
cost: FREE

Color me......

....solid.

Many of you that have known me for a while know that I am a color junky. I love Noro because of all the colors and textures. Solids don't usually do it for me unless they are tweedy or heathered. Even the most intricate lace or cable pattern looks better to me with a little tone-on-tone action. It's just the way I'm wired!

But, I have two solid favorites that I'd like to share with you today. First is Jamieson's Sheltland Spindrift - so many colors, so little time. I have been using this a LOT for my multi-color work. I know that it is cheating just a little since I am not really using it for a "solid" project but they do have many heathers that I would consider using on their own. (Victoria made a beautiful shawl with the Cloud color.) If I could line the walls of my bedroom with all the colors they offer, I'd wake up every morning a happy camper.

My second solid choice is the Manos Silk Blend. Of course they have beautiful multi-color options but their solids are deep and rich and look great on their own or together. I'm currently using two of my favorites together in a cute Fair Isle project from the Manos Primera book. It is SO soft and lucious. And did you know it felts beautifully??

These are by no means the only solid yarns I like but they are my favorites d'jour. (I have quite an ongoing thing for Berroco Ultra Alpaca, too.)

Whatever your taste, I'm sure we'll have something that will float your boat as well. :-)
Deb

So who taught you how to knit....

I was pondering this question the other day; remembering my beginning knitting days. My mom taught me how to knit when I was in third or fourth grade. I started knitting clothes for my Barbie dolls. I know for others they have been taught to knit by their grandmother, or by a friend, and some even self taught. I was thinking about my mom and that I will be seeing her on Mother's Day and what I could make for her to honor her on this day. My mom isn't knitting as much as she use to, so knitting a gift for her is something that she would enjoy. Whether you are a mom or not, Mother's Day is a day to honor the divine feminine in you. So what will you do for yourself on May 10th?

Come in and see us for inspiration! We have new French Scarf kits with the Claudia Hand Painted yarns that are yummy, yummy colors.

Happy Easter!

We'll be closed this coming Sunday, April 12, for the Easter holiday. Enjoy some (knitting) time with your families!

Spring Things!

We're breaking out the iced tea and wearing our flipflops in the shop this week - because it's SUNNY! Doesn't the sunshine just brighten your mood and make you want to knit a bikini? Okay, we'll not go that far - but instead, check out the bright colors of Euroflax sportweight linen we got in. We bought this to inspire you all to knit the Net Duffel Bag that's featured in the Spring Interweave Knits magazine. Designed by the Domino knitting queen, Vivian Hoxbro, this bag is a fun knit that expands to hold all your summer treats, from fruit to swimsuits and towels.

On the knitting book front, we now have plenty of copies of Cookie A's "Sock Innovations." Those of you who enjoy a challenging sock pattern will love this book. Cookie never fails to inspire with her twisting, turning designs. Another new book we recommend is Marianne Isager's "Japanese Inspired Knits." There's a sweater for each month and you'll be sure to find one to suit your fancy.

Come in and have a glass of iced tea with us and we'll help you find that perfect spring project!

Knit Nite This Friday!

I know! It's April already! Could spring flowers be far behind? Knit Nite is Friday, April 3 from 6-9pm. This month we're fortunate to have Laurie Sharp from Wool Pets with us. She'll be here demonstrating how wool can magically turn into cute little animals with just a few pokes of the felting needles. Plus, we'll be raffling off one of her kits that night. You must be present to win - but that's no hardship. Who could resist being at a knit shop full of yarn and tea with good friends? See you there!