Introducing a new class: Knitting 201. It will be offered regularly (like Knitting 101), starting Saturday, March 10, 11-1. It’s a 2-hour workshop designed for knitters who are ready to go beyond the basics of knitting and purling. There will be lots of tips and techniques for increasing, decreasing, casting on and binding off, knitting in the round, pattern reading, quick repairs, and more. If you want to give your stitching skills a boost, register before March 8 by giving us a call, 570-287-9999.
Woolstok is back in stock! We realized we just couldn’t knit without it. Although a few colors were back-ordered (this yarn is wildly popular throughout the country), we’re expecting the outstanding shades in this week. Blue Sky Fibers sure has a hit on its hands with this premium worsted weight Peruvian wool.
Also back by popular demand, the Gleener in both regular and travel size Gleener-on-the-Go. The longer we have this amazing fuzz remover, the more ways we find to use it to restore both handknits and commercial fabrics (natural fibers as well as synthetics) to like-new condition.
What’s recently come off your (and our) needles? Inspired by Bonnie’s cute cats, Jane made her own Pablo The Serious Cat out of Manos del Uruguay Maxima. Nelly Shkuro’s design is pretty irresistible and easy to stitch, stuff, and assemble. This little guy is headed to one lucky little grandson.
Donna made Sarah Solomon’s Bonner Hat* for her husband from Berroco Vintage. She’s rightfully proud of her first project with “serious cabling.” She knew it was a hit when it went right on his head and out into the cold – the best review any knitter could hope for.
Here is my topdown seamless wee Liesl* by Ysolda Teague. I used Ewe Ewe Yarn’s Ewe So Sporty. This pattern is fabulous. I love the way the designer incorporated the increases directly into the feather and fan pattern. The yarn is also fabulous, relaxing and softening after a soak in Soak soap. Can you believe the before and after pictures? All girl babies I know are getting this sweater from now on.
Same sweater before washing:
May I crow about another yarn? mYak Baby Yak Medium was a joy to knit and after its bath – wow. These have to be the softest hats I’ve ever made, and I’ve worked with cashmere and, yes, even qiviut. I wish you could just touch this photo to feel what I mean. Two hanks of this baby yak down worsted weight became two of Jared Floods’ Turn a Square hats.
I made a close-fitting beanie and a slouch hat.
The slouch uses a technique called “helical striping,” and it is so cool! I’ll be demonstrating how to do it on Local Yarn Shop Day on April 21. Stay tuned for our full schedule for this inaugural local yarn shop appreciation day sponsored by the TNNA Yarn Group. It will be a day to celebrate brick-and-mortar yarn stores – where you can indulge your yarn love by feeling fibers and seeing a variety of colors, get together with other stitchers, and have your stitching questions answered all year long.
And at the end of the rainbow, Jill with her newest shop sample just off the needles, color my stripes* from Lori Versaci. The ends aren’t even sewn in yet, but I couldn’t wait another minute to photograph it. Jill says it’s a great “mindless” knit in between the eyelet rows that make it such a stunner. The yarn? Wonderland Mary Ann, a 85/15 merino/nylon fingering. color my stripes takes a full skein of the main color and a braid of five mini-skeins, both of which are now in stock!
Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!