Boxing Week

We're getting the store ready for Boxing Week. There will be bright pink and yellow signs though out the store showing the yarns that are on sale. The sale will run from Tuesday December 27 until Saturday December 31.

We are offering 25% off on

-Select Rowan Yarns
-Charly from Filatura di Crosa
-Sportwool from Filatura di Crosa
-Loyal 8ply from Naturally
-Self-patterning, commercially dyed sock yarns
-Camelot from Classic Elite
-all Noro yarns
-Sublime Luxurious Tweed DK
-all Zen Yarn Garden yarns

There are still a few days so this list could be getting longer.

If you purchase 10 balls of the same yarn (it doesn't have to be the same colour) then we will give you an extra 10% off.

No returns. No exchanges. No holds. All Sales Final.

Gale (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is knit with Charly and takes 12 balls for the small. That means 35% off.

The Easy Fold Poncho (pattern purchased on Ravelry) is knit in Sportwool. The poncho with the collar takes 8 balls.

You can also use this pattern with Loyal or Sublime Tweed DK.

The Camelot Ridged Cowl (free pattern on Ravelry) takes two balls of Camelot.

There hasn't been a lot of knitting happening. Beth and I are hosting Boxing Day dinner so we need to get the house in order. There is also Christmas shopping to be done. I still have a few days :)

Clip??

Lynda is going to be busy during the holidays. She is making the Library Vest from Churchmouse Yarns for us. The yarn is Zara from Filatura di Crosa.

Here is a picture of this project in the beginning stages.  Gauge swatch blocked to exactly 6"

When I reviewed the pattern, I was a little nervous about the "Clip and turn". I simply followed the directions and was very pleasantly surprised at how easy it was.  Churchmouse patterns are really well written.

Lynda had me a bit freaked out with her email. Why is she cutting?

I just read through the pattern and "Clip and turn" has nothing to do with scissors. It is an interesting way to do a wrap and turn. Whew.

With simple styling that lends itself to the classroom, workplace or weekend, this vest is so classic, so quintessential, it could become your uniform. The jumper length has a certain schoolgirl chic. The abridged, hip-length version is a flattering layer without the bulk of a sweater. Either way, it’s a nice little primer of techniques you’ll use again and again.

Potluck

I made it to the third colour tonight.

Yes, I'm a bit obsessed. You need to pay a bit of attention in the lace sections but then you get a chunk of garter stitch. Perfect for watching TV.

I was talking with the good folks at Hedgehog Fibres today and our next order is being dyed right now. There will be 4 potluck colours in the shipment. 2 in Sock and 2 in Skinny Singles.

'Potluck' colourways are one of a kind dyelots that will not be repeated. Their style is the dyers choice, and can be fun and experimental!

I can't wait to see them. I have a feeling that a few might make it into another Find Your Fade.

The designs from Rowan Magazine 61 look amazing. Hithe reminds me of sweaters we saw from Kim Hargreaves and Annabel Fox in the early days of Rowan. I think I'm going to need this sweater.

Just a reminder of our hours for the next few weeks

Holiday Hours
Friday December 23 10-7
Saturday December 24 10-2
Sunday December 25 Closed
Monday December 26 Closed
Tuesday December 27 10-5:30
Wednesday December 28 10-5:30
Thursday December 29 10-5:30
Friday December 30 12-7
Saturday December 31 10-1
Sunday January 1 Closed
Monday January 2 10-5:30

It's that time. Tea. Knitting. Property Brothers.

Finished Projects

Lynn finished a very pretty pair of socks. The pattern is called Embossed Leaves (purchased on Ravelry). It is one of her favourite patterns. She used one skein of Twist Sock from Hedgehog. A sad story about her second sock. She was almost finished when she found a mistake so she ripped out the whole sock and started again. The good part of her sad story. She commented that when the yarn was rolled back into the ball you couldn't tell that it had already been knit. Sometimes the yarn is kinky. Not Twist Sock.

The socks are a very good example about why you should block. The lace pattern lies flat. It makes a big difference.

Beth finished Valanar (pattern purchased on Ravelry) with one skein of tosh vintage. We were worried that the cables wouldn't show up in this colour (Electric Rainbow) but they do.

Six more rows of lace and then I'm onto the garter section. That means the next colour gets to play.

Outside the Box

I made it to the second colour. These aren't colours that I normally work with but sometimes you need to get out of the comfortable box and try something new.

The pattern is well written and easy to follow.

There could be lots more knitting tonight. It will depend on the football and hockey games. If they aren't exciting then it might be bed. I was up very early shoveling our driveway and cleaning the cars. The roads weren't great on my drive to work and when I got the store the parking lot hadn't been cleared. I spent time shoveling until the plow arrived. I'm a bit tired tonight.

Find your Fade (pattern purchased on Ravelry)

There is a KAL for the shawl on Ravelry. The designer says that it's okay to start early so I am. I don't think it's possible but I'd love to have the shawl finished when I go to TNNA at the end of January.

I put together another combination today. This is Dandelion from madelinetosh. From top to bottom
Flycatcher Blue
Aura
Court & Spark
Whiskers
Silver Leaf
Undergrowth
Chicory

A bit subdued compared to what I am doing :) I think it will be beautiful.

As I'm writing, I received a text from my mom. Lucy is lying on the landing going upstairs.

I guess she can keep an eye on everyone from here. 

Football is about to start and my knitting is calling.

Gradients

We received a box of beautiful yarn from Prism yesterday. This is the Gradient Wrap knit with one Gradient Pack.

Designed to dip gracefully in the back, this subtly shaped shawl will fit comfortably on your shoulders.
Since each row is cut and tied to the next to create fringe as you work, there is very little finishing involved.
Our Gradient Packs come with one skein each of eight shades from light to dark.

The eccentric chevron pattern adds just enough interest to keep the knitting engaging, and the softly moving colors speak in waves. Twisted cord fringe adds a finishing touch.

 

Bayleaf

With eight subtle shades ranging from the barest tint to deep strength, our versatile Gradient Packs contain eight 2 oz skeins of Merino Mia for 1520 yards of fine merino wool.

Gray

Blue

Taupe

 

Grape

We have a new shawl in the store. The Evolution Kit from Wendy comes with two patterns - one knit and one crocheted. The knit version turned out great.

Scarf/shawl kit in a box. Super soft, hand knotted colour changing yarn (the colour change is produced by dyeing each colour separately and then hand tying set lengths of yarn together), packaged to work straight from the box. Our Evolution designs are precisely written to require one 150 gram ball.

50% cotton/50% acrylic

I couldn't help myself and started my Find Your Fade this morning. The first section (garter stitch) is finished and I'm onto the lace section. 12 more rows and I get to add in the next colour. It's time to knit. I should be doing other work but I need to have pictures for tomorrow's blog post - I can justify anything.

Find Your Fade

There is a great new pattern on Ravelry called Find Your Fade.

Starting at a single point and growing, shifting and fading into a piece that begs to be wrapped up in. is asymmetrical triangle shawl uses some clever increasing and decreasing, combined with relaxing garter stitch and simple lace so that you have a fun-to-knit canvas to play with mixing colors on! is shawl is all about making it your own. Let your creativity shine!!
Get creative - this is YOUR shawl! Use only 1 color, or 3, or 10. Need help with color selections? I highly recommend diving into your stash (or the shelves of your LYS) and untwisting the skeins and then laying them next to each other. Look for nuances that can be seen from one color to the next - if your first color has some gold (like mine), why not snag an awesome speckled skein that also has some gold and another color you love (ahem - pink), so that after the speckled skein you can start stitching up that favorite pink skein you have been hoarding! And so on and so forth! 

I took four sets of colours home last night and this is the one that I'm going to use. From left to right
Sorry not Sorry
Pheasant
Copper Penny
Monarch
Genie
Villain
Pollen (mini skein)

I put together some other combinations.
Ferrum
Raven
Velvet
Ghost
Petrol
Dragonfly
Wish 

Swamp
Envy
Villain
Pinky Swear
Genie
Monarch
Copper Penny

Sorry not Sorry
Jelly
Villain
Pinky Swear
Genie
Monarch
Copper Penny

It's been a few days of unpacking.

Lots of Woolstok from Blue Sky.

A shipment from Prism. I'm going to blog about the amazing colours tomorrow.

More Caracol from Malabrigo.

Party of Five kits from SweetGeorgia.

I'm blogging early today because it's my dad's company Christmas party later this afternoon. This way I know my work for today is finished.

Hedgehog

We just received a shipment from Hedgehog Fibres.

We are now carrying Sock - there are 26 awesome colours in the box.

Fingering weight yarn, 90% Merino wool, 10% nylon, superwash. 21.5 micron Merino wool, softly spun, non-scratchy yarn. This is our most popular and famous yarn base, and for good reason. The perfect balance of soft and durable, the dye takes especially beautifully on this base. The ideal yarn for accessories, especially Stephen West designs for fingering weight yarns. It is fantastic for for shawls, scarves, baby items, hats and more! It can also be held double for a DK project which makes a soft, supple fabric with even more variegation.

If you are looking for a durable yarn for sock knitting, we would recommend our Twist Sock base.

And we have Sock Minis.

A mini version of our Sock Yarn! Little cuties are 20g/80m.
Fingering weight yarn, 90% Merino wool, 10% nylon, superwash. 21.5 micron Merino wool, softly spun, non-scratchy yarn.
These are great for a pop of colour, a contrast edging, hem or a border. Or stripes, colourwork, granny squares, baby socks, hexipuffs, yarn swaps, and so much more!

There are 30 different colours of minis.

Pattern: Born Trippy (free from Hedgehog)

Just one skein of Hedgehog Fibres Sock Yarn together with four Sock Minis will knit up into this cute little chevron scarf. Use your prized favourite speckle-tastic skein! Add a few pops of colour with the Minis, or use a second full skein for a slightly longer scarf. Speckles work well with a matching or a contrasting semi-solid.

There are also 19 colours of Skinny Singles and 4 colours of Twist Sock. Stock up before it's gone.

Franklin Habit and Lorna's Laces

The Christmas baking last night was a lot of work. :)

You still have time to join the KAL for the Marley Blanket hosted by Franklin Habit and Lorna's Laces.

Lorna's Laces did not kit the red/yellow version that is pictured in the finished throw but they can make you a kit in it's likeness if that is the colourway you want. The throw pictured is the XLarge size.

We are going to be doing the Cloudgate kits - these will make the bulky version. The colours available are

Cam (the colour that I am doing)

Ernie

Pedro

Rosamond

Samwise

There are 4 sizes on the blanket pattern. The pattern is not included in the kit - you need to purchase it on Ravelry.

The finished blanket measures approximately 27 (36, 48, 58)” wide by 36 (49, 70, 83)” long, but will vary based upon finished gauge and blocking. 

Small - takes 1 kit
Medium - takes 2 kits
Large - takes 3 kits
XLarge - takes 4 kits

Each kit is $125.

Order your kit/kits now to make sure they are in stock before the end of December.

Dad took Lucy to the dog park and then in for a visit. She was very well behaved - she didn't touch a ball of yarn (or our lunch).