I froze!

We received two new colours of Arranmore Light yesterday that would look amazing in the Library Vest.

We also received new colours of Zauberball Crazy and Zauberball Starke 6.

Zauberball^® has been kicked up a notch, as two strands of the main ply have been dyed individually and then twisted together for a crazy combination! The end result is a self-striping multi-colored pattern, with a bold variegated design!

The same unique color combinations as Zauberball^® Crazy in a DK weight to give sweaters, shawls, and scarves a truly creative flair.

Beth used two colours of Crazy to make an easy to knit scarf. We have kits in the store.

She remade the scarf with Starke 6.

Cathy and Lynn spent the day yesterday tidying up the Cascade 220 and Cascade 220 Heathers.

We have 8 new colours of Cascade 220.

The classic Cascade 220® is the perfect combination of affordability, quality and versatility that can be used for a wide range of projects. Each hank of this worsted weight 100% pure wool comes with a generous 220 yards. With a nearly unlimited color palette to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect color(s) for your next project! 

DETAILS

• 100% Peruvian Highland Wool

• Weight: 100 g / 3.5 oz

• Approx. Yardage: 220 yds / 200 m

• Knitting Needle Size: US 7 - 8 / 4.5 - 5.0 mm

• Knitting Gauge: 18 - 20 = 4" (10 cm)

There are two new colours of Cascade 220 Heathers.

Cascade 220 would be perfect for Christmas Stockings. This pattern is from Churchmouse Yarns. You can purchase it in the store or on Ravelry.

In three sizes: Wee, Medium and Jolly Big. And in any length you like. Use these simple shapes and add your own personal touches. We've given you a few ideas to get you started, but the possibilities are limitless. They're sure to prompt a hearty "Ho! Ho! Ho!" from St. Nick. 

I'm at home with Roko waiting for a call from Cathy and Lynn that UPS has arrived. I've been working on the website and have tried to remain patient.

Roko is not worried about the shipment. I wish I was as calm as he is.

I've been watching NCIS: New Orleans while working.

At 3:30 I still hadn't heard from Cathy and Lynn that the Spincycle order had arrived. I headed back to the store. UPS came at 4 but the Spincycle wasn't on his truck. It was on a different one. I called UPS and they guaranteed we'd see the box by 5. Nope. I called again and then Mr. UPS came at 5:30. It was the same driver. He did have my box but didn't look for it. I think that my blood pressure might have been a bit higher than it should have been.

We stayed til 6 to unpack the boxes and pull customers orders. When I got home I updated the website.

These are Dream State.

I'll get pictures of Dyed in the Wool tomorrow. There are so many amazing colours. Now I might need to make The Shift. Cathy had hers on when she left the store. Or a smarter idea might be to have Alex make it for me. It'll be quicker that way.

Then my day got better. I locked the store and started to walk to my car. If you've been to the store you know it isn't far. There was a skunk staring at me. Yup. You read that correctly. I had no clue what to do. I froze. It froze. Then it turned and waddled away. Oh my goodness.

What a long post. That is what happens when I spend too much time at home during the day. I didn't want to sit and knit - I'd feel guilty doing that so I wrote. And wrote.

Everyone loves Rainbows

Meet the newest So Fond of Rainbows from Frabjous Fibers. This is Fig and Fawn.

It's the rainbowload of Mini Skeins, oh yes. Curated collections on your favorite bases in four colorways that provide a full-spectrum knitting experience! Twenty 1-oz Mini Skeins: combine them all for a large project, or spread them out over several smaller projects. The possibilities are truly endless! 

If you are thinking of doing an Advent Shawl KAL (like Ambah O'Brien's) these would be amazing. You have more than enough yarn but you will need to use five colours more than once. Or you can add in a mini skein pack so that you have 25 colours.

I think Black Pearl would make a great addition to the kit.

Hookah Smoke could be interesting.

I took Beth to the airport this morning - 10 minutes each way. You can't beat that. I'm at home with Roko so I checked UPS to see when the Spincycle box is being delivered. It isn't. There was a problem. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with no resolution except that I will be notified when it will be delivered. I was very polite but it isn't getting our parcel here any quicker. 

Cathy and Lynn have the store running smoothly today so I'm at home working on the website. Tough Love Sock from SweetGeorgia has been updated and all the new colours have been added.

80% superwash merino wool, 20% nylon 425 yards / 388 m per 4 oz / 115g skein 

A perfect blend of warmth and strength to make a hardwearing sock yarn that can stand up to your affection and abuse. Tough Love Sock is our best-selling yarn and knits up beautifully into fine-gauge sweaters, small shawls, as well as socks! Spun from 80% superwash and super soft merino and 20% nylon, this 3-ply yarn is so versatile — knit it firmly for hard wearing socks, knit it loosely for drapey shawls, or knit it doubled for a great worsted weight substitute. Suggested gauge for sock knitting: US 0-1 (2-2.25mm) | 8 sts/1

I don't want to make any promises after what happened today but UPS is supposed to be delivering a HUGE Namaste order on Thursday. I learned my lesson. No more promises.

The Interchangeable Buddy Case is coming.

Formerly known as the Bigga' Buddy Case, Namaste is back with the new and improved Knitter's Interchangeable Buddy Case. A larger version of the Knitter's Buddy Case, made of animal-friendly faux leather, this amazing case keeps your metal items in place with its inner magnetized walls. Perfect for keeping your notions in one place, the improved Knitter's Interchangeable Buddy Case has significantly more powerful magnets to keep your notions in place, a stronger and more durable frame, and higher quality materials. Its spacious interior accommodates all kinds of notions and accessories, even crochet hooks and double point needles! This needle/notions case also includes a removable interior divider with attached elastic for holding interchangeable cords and needle tips. Committed to more sustainable packaging, the Knitter's Interchangeable Buddy Case also come in a re-useable gift box. 

The Knitter's Portfolio.

Messy needles equal a messy mind. 

Clear your needles and clear your mind by organizing them in our Knitter's Portfolio. Crafted from vegan leather, finished with our Signature 4-Lotus Lining, this needle organizer also includes a sheet of needle size stickers. This generous case was created to bring order and peace to your needles.

KNITTER'S PORTFOLIO DETAILS

• 20 vinyl pages hold 20-50 sets of circular needles
• 20 fabric slots for interchangeable tips, double pointed needles, or crochet hooks 
• 2 inner sleeves, one with velcro, to stash a pattern or interchangeable cords
• 1 outer zippered pocket for notions
• Includes a sheet of stickers to help organize your different needle sizes

The Knitter's Wallet

Crafted from vegan leather and finished with our Signature 4-Lotus Lining, this slim zippered wallet was mindfully designed to hold enough needles for all the projects you'll bring along during that long weekend trip.

KNITTER'S WALLET DETAILS:

• 10 vinyl pages hold 10-20+ sets of circular needles 
• 5 fabric slots for interchangeable tips, double pointed needles, or crochet hooks
• 1 wide fabric pocket for interchangeable cords
• 2 inner fabric sleeves to stash a pattern or interchangeable cords
• 1 outer zippered pocket for notions

Roko and I are having some quiet time watching the Leafs play. He was tested two weeks ago and now he is on medication for his thyroid. It has already made a difference. He is much more active. We turn our backs and he has jumped up on the couch. That hasn't happened for a while.

I'm going to sign off and knit for an hour or so. 

I should be ready to fade into my third colour if I go by the pattern. I have enough yarn so I'm going to add in one more section and then start fading.

I just checked UPS and our parcel from Spincycle is supposed to come tomorrow. SUPPOSED TO.

What is it?

The Om Shawl is an interesting pattern from Andrea Mowry.

The Om Shawl can be worn in a myriad of ways to mirror all of the different facets of your personality, the changing seasons, and the different parts of your day! Drape it around your back and over your arms as a cozy stole, button up the top sides and pull it over your head as a poncho, button half of the side buttons and wrap it twice around your neck like a cowl letting the corners drape down like a triangle shawl. Lay it over your lap for some extra warmth on a cool morning as you sip tea. Button all of the side buttons and use it as a nursing cowl. The options are endless!

You can purchase the pattern on Ravelry and we have copies in the store.

Photos ©Andrea Mowry

There are so many ways to wear this that I'm not sure what to call it. Andrea says shawl but it's also a poncho and a stole.

There are over 1100 Om Shawl projects on Ravelry. I've made the search smaller and here is a link to all the Oms knit with Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers. The yarn is perfect for the shawl.

They are here! I'm working on getting them on the website.

Beth is off to Vancouver tomorrow for a conference so I am on Roko duty. I will need to spend a bit of time at home with him every day so I'll be in and out of the store. Lynn, Cathy and Alex will be there to look after you.

Her conference is interesting. It is on Passive Housing.

A rigorous, voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building's ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling.

You can read more here. Our construction company just completed a building for Indwell and another building has started.

I was up early this morning. Really early so I wrote my post before heading to the store. I didn't publish it in case I had news to add. Unfortunately I don't. I will tomorrow. It's almost bed time because Beth's flight is very early. Thankfully she's flying out of Hamilton. We can get there in under 15 minutes.

Knitting Camp 2019

We are excited to announce that Laura Bryant of Prism Yarns will be one of our instructor for Knitting Camp 2019.

After developing a life-long passion for color while earning a degree in fine arts from the University of Michigan, Laura began Prism Yarns in 1984. She continues as Prism's creative force, specializing in color, hand-dyed yarns, and developing designs and patterns that use them in exciting and innovative ways. 

 Laura has written six books including The Yarn Stash Workbook, The New Knitter's Template (coauthored with Barry Klein), and recently produced the DVD Knitter's Guide to Color with Laura Bryant and the video, Yarn to Fit with Barry Klein. Artful Color, Mindful Knits from XRX Books is her latest book.  

Laura is a nationally recognized weaver with work in many major corporate collections and is a recipient of an NEA individual artist grant in support of her work. Laura teaches and designs with a 'no rules' approach, and her classes are designed to bring out the creativity within all of us.

As you can see, Laura loves colour. Dying yarn. Designing patterns. Wearing it.

Here are a few more of Laura's designs.

And one of my favourites. Double Your Pleasure. I am going to be sending another kit to Lynda this week. I might have one in every colour 💕

Date: Thursday September 12 - Sunday September 15
Location: Bayview-Wildwood Resort

I still have to figure out the other instructor and workshops but now you can mark your calendar.

Pink

The sun is shining (kind of) and I took a better picture of Free Your Fade. Now you can see the pink (or rose) coming through in my second colour.

Cathy came in this morning wearing her Free Your Fade that she knit in Skinny Singles. We picked out colours for another one in Rockshelter Sock. The colours are so pretty. Cathy loves blues and greens so these will be perfect for her.

17 Sage
120 Pisgah National Forest
127 Claude Monet

©Andrea Mowry

This cowl is the perfect all-the-time accessory! And the answer for all of those knitters out there who love to knit shawls, but have a hard time styling them. A fun and engaging knit with shifting colors, that looks like an asymmetrical triangle shawl, and it only takes a fiddle-free second to throw it on as the finish to every outfit!

©Andrea Mowry

You need 3 skein of Dyed in the Wool to make The Shift (pattern purchased on Ravelry).

Dyed In The Wool represents the fulfillment of our desire, here at Spincycle headquarters, to merge the beauty and texture of a handspun yarn with a more efficiently produced millspun yarn. We found the perfect partners at a mill on Camano Island: a mother-daughter team who are meticulous and skilled and lovely! 

Through our collaboration, we are able to produce a yarn that maintains the color artistry of our original handspun product. Because we dye the fiber before it's spun, colors meet and part ways in stunning, unique combinations; the overall effect is of a balanced, seamless whole. 

The color transitions are slow and dramatic, and each skein is unique. When planning larger projects requiring more than one skein, allow for nuance. 

Today's UPS tracking for the box from Spincycle. Now it's written in stone - we will see the yarn on Tuesday. If they could only tell me the time. Some days it is 10am. Some days it is 5pm.

All of a sudden it hit me this afternoon that I hadn't thought about the Dundas Pottery show this fall. Guess what - it's this weekend. I went down after work. I came home with a box of beautiful things.

Now some knitting. There are a lot of sporting events this evening.

Blossoms

I received an email from Frabjous Fibers this morning introducing something new. It didn't take long for me to place my order. These will be shipped to us on December 3 and we should see them later that week.

Floral-inspired, gradient balls of JOY! These Blossoms are a smooth, soft blend of 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon. Watch the colors shift as you work through your next fingering weight shawl, socks, accessories, or even double or triple up to make a lightweight garment! 

There are 388m/425 yards of yarn in each ball.

We will be receiving 4 balls of each colour. The balls will retail for $51 each.

It's nice to see bright colours on another cold, dreary, rainy day.

I came to work yesterday morning and it was very cold. The batteries had died in my thermostat. Of course I needed two and only had one. I added the one I had but it wasn't the best solution. I can make it work if I press on the thermostat. I can't stand all day and do it so I tried taping it tightly to the wall. That kind of worked. The store heated up yesterday. I came in this morning and it was freezing. Same problem. I monkeyed around and it is working now. I hope I remember batteries in the morning and that solves my problem. It's a good thing there is a lot of warm garments here to put on.

Have you checked your inbox this week? I sent out a newsletter on Wednesday morning. If you haven't seen it, you can read it here.

Wrist Rulers are now available on the website. These are what are currently in stock with more colours and sizes coming next week.

I allowed myself some time to knit in the store today. Normally there is work to do but I looked the other way😀 You can't see it in the picture (I'll take some more tomorrow if the sun comes out) but my second colour does have the pink of the first colour.

I have a few more rows in me and then it's time for bed. We didn't get a lot of sleep at my house last night. Our sump pump was acting up. We had to keep checking and just after midnight it decided to behave properly. It's working okay now but we're having a repair man come and look at it on Monday. It's not something we want to mess around with. It has to work or we will have a very large mess in the basement.

Second Colour

I ordered new sock yarn today and we should see it next week. Lang has introduced Lang Jawoll Twin - a self striping yarn in 50 gram balls. There is an identical colour gradient in each ball which means that your socks will match perfectly.

I made it to the second colour. Someone asked me what colours I am using. All three are Rockshelter Sock.

Old Lace
Gifting
Opium Den

Meet the Namaste Knitter's Portfolio. My fingers are crossed that they will arrive in time for Christmas.

Messy needles equal a messy mind. 

Clear your needles and clear your mind by organizing them in our Knitter's Portfolio. Crafted from vegan leather, finished with our Signature 4-Lotus Lining, this needle organizer also includes a sheet of needle size stickers. This generous case was created to bring order and peace to your needles.

KNITTER'S PORTFOLIO DETAILS

• 20 vinyl pages hold 20-50 sets of circular needles
• 20 fabric slots for interchangeable tips, double pointed needles, or crochet hooks 
• 2 inner sleeves, one with velcro, to stash a pattern or interchangeable cords
• 1 outer zippered pocket for notions
• Includes a sheet of stickers to help organize your different needle sizes

The colours will be black, grey, petal, plum and teal.

If you joined us for Camp this year I will be sending you an email tomorrow about 2019. We'll be ready to announce to everyone next week.