Happy Winter Solstice! We’ve made it this far—the shortest day of the year. Things will be looking brighter very soon.

Our holiday hours for safe, in-person, last minute shopping this week are Tuesday and Wednesday, 12-4 p.m. both days. The shop will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We’ll be open our regular hours on Saturday, December 26. Next week, you can shop Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday; we’ll only be closed on Friday, New Year’s Day.

The latest issue of Pom Pom Quarterly, guest-edited by Stephen West and Aimée Gille, has finally arrived, but our supply may not last long. It’s a honey!

Grab Jared Flood’s free Mitten Ornament pattern (above) and some odds & ends of all different size yarns to make adorable mitten decorations — they make great gift card holders, too. Look at all these cuties Kathy has already made…

Another pattern Kathy thought was nice enough to make at least twice is Amy Miller’s Donder and Blitzen*. She used sportweight yarn from her stash, including some Ewe So Sporty. Our Rowan Baby Cashsoft Merino or Kelbourne Woolens Scout would also work well.

Jill”s Fox Scarf was made with soft, washable Ultra Wool from Berroco as a gift for a glamorous little lady in her life.

A reminder that your 2020 Frequent Buyer Points will roll over to 2021. While we’d love to see you before the end of the year, there’s no need to rush in to use points before they expire. We’re happy to keep them ready for you to redeem for savings in a happier and healthier New Year!

Finally, a teaser… In early November, I searched on Ravelry for a Christmas stocking pattern to knit in aran/chunky weight yarn. I didn’t find one I was 100% happy with, so I decided to make my own. I’m still noodling my design, so it’s not quite ready to share and be knit and hung by the chimney with care this year. But I will post the pattern as a free download here when the final version has been properly edited and test knit, in plenty of time to make plenty for 2021. This is a shot of my very first prototype, 9″ straight needles included for scale. Directions will include easy options for the cuff and the striping — you won’t have to fiddle with making a folded ribbed cuff or helical stripes unless you really want to!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

As a thank you for supporting GYI in 2020, we’re rolling over all your remaining Frequent Buyer Points earned in the last 12 months to become the start of your 2021 points. Ordinarily, points expire on December 31, but not this crazy year!

We also have another thank you — a free PDF download for my Bitty Bulky Hat pattern for both newborn and 3-6 month sizes. Whatever the time of year, babies need soft, cozy hats on their little noggins. This hat knits up quickly with chunky yarn on size US 9/5.5mm needles. The comfy garter ribbing won’t ever be too tight. My newborn size samples, below, were made with my favorite Cascade 128 Superwash (pink) and Berroco Vintage Chunky (white).

(Don’t know any babies right now? You can use the newborn size directions to make a tree ornament just by downsizing the gauge and using sock weight yarn and US 01/2.25mm needles.)

Click below to download your copy of my Bitty Bulky Hat pattern and enjoy.

Back by popular demand, we have a very limited supply of our durable GYI Logo Project Bags. Get your 9×11″ zippered bag before they’re all gone!

I have great FOs to share… our customer Catherine uses nothing but Vintage Worsted for her beautiful crocheted afghans. She was kind enough to send along this picture of her latest. I love that windowpane edging.

Tina posted pictures of two of her recent projects in our GYI Group on Ravelry and graciously allowed me to feature them here. Her cabled Realeza Cowl was knit with one of our new Pintada colors of Rasta. The pattern is from her personal library, but if you’d like to make a similar cowl using only one skein of Rasta, try Susan Ashcroft’s free pattern, Rasta Swirl.

We have many of these beautiful Pintada colors still in stock:

Tina’s other FO is the It’s Bitter Cold Hat by Carol Bristol, which is also free on Ravelry. She used Cascade 128 Superwash. Bet both of these pretty pieces would be super quick knits if you need any last-minute gift ideas!

Bonnie created her Occam* from designer Bristol Ivy with two shades of silky Metalico from Blue Sky Fibers. I included the second photo to prove that, yes, those horizontal stripes you start with really do become chevron stripes by the end of this clever scarf.

• 

• 

We recently received word from Rowan that nearly all the remaining colors from our order of Felted Tweed should arrive in their North Carolina warehouse from the U.K. today or tomorrow. They’ll need about a week to process and ship orders — ours and hundreds of other local yarn shops’ — but we hope to see our missing colors before the end of the year. To celebrate, we’re planning a Felted Tweed KAL for the New Year. Stay tuned for details! Until then, we already have a wonderful paintbox of colors…

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Happy Thanksgiving. If 2020 were yarn, it would be that tangled plug that pops out from the middle of the skein labeled “center-pull ball.” It hasn’t been easy to pull out all the knots from this mess of a year, but we’ve had a lot of help. Thank you for sticking with us and continuing to buy your yarn and notions from our little shop.

We’re taking today and tomorrow off. The shop will re-open Saturday, November 28, which just happens to be Small Business Saturday. We don’t know if we’ll be seeing as many regular customers and visiting out-of-towners that day as in years past, but we’re thinking of you and wishing you all well.

Whenever you do shop with us, you can count on it being a safe, socially-distanced, and convenient experience. We will welcome you with masks on, plenty of hand sanitizer, and all the same passion for yarn and what you can create with it.

If you have some gift knitting still to do or are ready to plan a new project for a new year, may we suggest something with Rowan Felted Tweed? Nothing has captured our imagination lately so much as these plump little balls of colorful DK weight yarn, a blend of soft merino wool, cozy alpaca, and viscose. Below, Jill’s 7 Color Scarf, made with log cabin knitting. (You’ll get the pattern free with a yarn purchase.) What else can you make with it? More like, what can’t you make with it—enjoy looking through Ravelry’s 100+ pages of pattern suggestions for Felted Tweed!

Yarn companies Rowan and Sirdar have created 7 beautiful reasons to shop local this year. Their newest kits are exclusive to yarn shops–you won’t find them anywhere else. Best of all, you won’t need to wait until Small Business Saturday on the 28th. Order from us now, and your kit will be sent directly to you for a $7.95 flat rate shipping charge, so you can cast on right away. It’s a win/win!

#1 / Merino Aria Cowl: You must feel this yarn to believe how soft it is next to your skin. Chunky yet lightweight with a soft halo, Merino Aria is a chainette yarn that’s 93% merino wool. Two balls make this simple, textured cowl. Drop ship kit available in three colors, Slate, Steel Grey, or Bear. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $38.

#2 / Merino Aria Beanie & Pom Pom: A quick knit in Rowan’s new Merino Aria. Two balls makes this cute beanie topped off with a matching vegan pom pom. Drop ship kit available in 3 color combinations, Slate/Black, Steel Grey/Steel Grey, or Bear/Camel. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $76.

#3 / Jewelspun Hat & Scarf: Sirdar Jewelspun has the look of handspun in practical, easy-care acrylic. This wide scarf uses simple increases and decreases to create the chevron design, while Jewelspun does all the work of the colorful striping. Kit includes two balls to make both the scarf and hat, a free Sirdar project bag, and free pattern. Available in 3 colorways, Northern Lights, Golden Green, or Glacier. Kit price: $26.50.

#4 / Honey Hat: Using one hank of Rowan’s new Pure Cashmere, Honey is a quick knit and a luxury gift to to give away or keep for your own. This buttery soft yarn is made up of gently-plied purest cashmere. Pure Cashmere comes from the renowned mill of Todd & Duncan in Scotland–this is cashmere at it’s finest. Drop ship kit available in two colors, Potash or College Red. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $63.50.

#5 / Glory Hat & Mittens: Another wonderful way to cosy up to Rowan’s new Pure Cashmere. Create this on-trend hat & fingerless mitts set with 2 hanks of the world’s finest cashmere. Drop ship kit available in two colors, Derby Grey or Ink Well. Free pattern included in Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $127.

#6 / Soft Boucle Scarf: New from Rowan, Soft Boucle is a lofty blend of cotton, alpaca, merino wool, and polyamide that creates a warm, yet light-as-air fabric. Just 3 balls makes this scarf with fringe. Available in three shades, Ash, Natural, or Plush. Kit includes free pattern and Rowan organza project bag. Kit price: $47.50.

#7 / Three Color Scarf: Wrap yourself or someone you love one in coziness and color this winter. Sirdar Country Classic Worsted is a 50/50 blend of merino wool and premium acrylic. This kit includes seven balls of Sirdar Country Classic Worsted, a free Sirdar project bag, and free pattern. Two calm neutral colorways available (pictured in Petrel/Toffee/Clotted Cream). Kit price: $59.50.

To order, email jill@goshyarnitshop.com or call the shop, 570-287-9999. It’s that easy!

Knitters and crocheters can use stitching to make the world a happier place – and in 2020, that’s really something! Right now, GYI is filled with yarns to help you find your creative superpowers. Whether you want to start on quick holiday gifts or are ready to immerse yourself in a larger project like a sweater or afghan, we’ve got your yarn.

Let’s start big. The Rasta Pintada Collection is here. Find your double digit needles and go wild with Rasta’s color-crazed super-bulky 100% merino wool. Malabrigo had to invent a whole new dying process to make them. Above, Aspen Leaf Knits’ Sidewinder Beanie*, this year’s hot Rasta hat; last year’s was the cute Perky Little Hat* from Sharon Lentsch. Lots of Rasta Pintada colors to choose from:

Whip up Sarah Kraly’s Marshmallow Fluff cowl in no time (below left). Knit a quick scarf like Jen Reilly’s classic Super-fast, Ultra-Cozy Scarf or Fifty Four Ten Studio’s Side Line Scarf (below right), a simple sequence-knit pattern that is also available in blanket size as the Boulevard Blanket.

• 

• 

Moving down to chunky weight, we’ve just doubled our stock of Cascade 128 Superwash–it now takes up two rows of shelves. When your pattern calls for needles/hooks sized around US10/6mm, look no further than easy-care 128 Superwash, an incredibly next-to-skin soft washable 100% merino wool.

I used Cascade 128 Superwash to test knit a pattern I’ve written for a baby hat in chunky yarn, sized for both newborn and 3-6 months (pink hat, below). Look for the free pattern to appear here in a future post.

We have DK/light worsted weight Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok (above) in both 50g and 150g hanks. It’s no secret it’s one of Jill’s favorites. She just finished an absolutely gorgeous sweater in Woolstok, The Big Y by designer Hinterm Stein. Beautiful!

• 

• 

Luscious sportweight silk/alpaca Metalico, also from Blue Sky Fibers, has been a big hit since it arrived last month. My Ombre Infinity* cowl, from Cynthia Parker, came off the blocking mats only this week. I tweaked the pattern a bit; changes are explained in my project notes on Ravelry

• 

• 

• 

Thankfully, more dyers and yarn companies are adopting the dropship model, in which your yarn is shipped directly to you with an order through us. Dyer Mira Cole of Baah Yarns will ship her 25 mini-skein kits for either Casapinka’s or Ambah O’Brien’s upcoming Advent MKALs. Contact us soon for full details about ordering.

The Berroco DropShip Program is still going strong. Their latest kit is the Wool Blossoms sweater in Ultra Wool from Julia Farwell-Clay. Aren’t those embroidered flowers lovely?

These days some of us are craving the comfort of not only sitting under a blanket but making one, too. Berroco’s latest blanket kit is Fern Lake*, written for their new hand-washable 100% wool Lanas, available in 3 color combinations (see below). Machine-washable Ultra Wool or Vintage could easily be substituted, of course. The Lanas kits are $126.

• 

• 

• 

Other blanket kits are available through Berroco’s DropShip Program: Blossfeldt (below) can be ordered in your choice of color, either in Vintage for $54 or Ultra Wool for $72.

Kits for Cunningham (below) can be ordered either in Modern Cotton for $100 or Pima 100 for $110.

If you’re looking for something a little sassier, designer Casapinka teamed up with Berroco to create DropShip kits for her Glamping Blanket in Vintage Chunky. Read all the details about how to order your kit from us here. Warning: this has been such a popular project that some Vintage Chunky colors have sold out entirely. We can let you know when Berroco has re-stocked or we can suggest colors to substitute. You can see all Vintage Chunky colors here.

BIG FINISH…

I’ve been holding off on the reveal of our newest yarn, Rowan Felted Tweed, because only half the order has arrived (we don’t know why, unless it’s because it’s one of the most beloved yarns on the planet, and everybody wants it right now with the release of Kaffe Fassett’s Painterly, his second Field Guide for Modern Daily Knitting). But I can’t wait any longer!

The amazing colors we DO already have were still plenty for Jill to pick out seven for a shop model of Antonia Shankland’s 7 Color Scarf *. This favorite pattern of ours is easy, fun, and quick. You’ll get it free with your purchase of Felted Tweed. The rest of the shipment should be in SOON!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at GYI.

It’s hard for us to believe, but we welcomed our first customers through our doors 10 years ago! Since serving cake and bubbly are no-no’s right now, we’re “partying” with a Birthday Sale through Saturday for both in-person shopping and phone orders. You’ll save 10% on regularly priced yarn and merchandise, including all our needles and notions, KP blocking boards, Chiao Goo Yarn Butlers, Soak, and Baggu totes — so it’s also a great time to stock up on gifts!

Having such a big birthday kicking off the fall season for us called for some very special yarn treats. We’re bringing in both old favorites and new loves.

Alegria is back on our sock yarn wall in 20+ colors. The dyers of Manos del Uruguay have created amazing new shades, and this blend of 75% superwash merino and 25% polyamide, as soft as ever, still comes in generous 445-yard hanks.

The Islamorada Shawl, Fairmount Fibers’ free pattern from Jocelyn Tunney, is one of the easiest ways we know to bring lots of beautiful Alegria into your life:

Next, Metalico from Blue Sky Fibers. What to say about a yarn that practically purrs?

The plump, gleaming braids of Metalico are almost too pretty to wind, but this lush 50/50 mix of alpaca and silk yarn is a joy to work with.

The four classic undyed colors are in stock now in the shop. We’re happily taking orders for their eight new colors, six of which are dyed — a first for Metalico.

Blue Sky Fibers is currently offering a Michael Vloedman design, the Lexington Cowl, free on Ravelry. It calls for two skeins each of three colors of Metalico:

Arriving soon are two more yarns we’re VERY excited about: the Rasta Pintada Collection from Malabrigo and Rowan Felted Tweed.

Above, the new Kaffe Fassett colors of Felted Tweed for F/W 2020.

May I recommend a type of yarn we’ve carried since Day 1? It’s one of my favorites — the silk/mohair blend. I’m convinced it’s magic stuff, used alone or as a carry-along yarn. Right now we stock both Berroco Aerial and Sugar Bush Yarns Drizzle. I used both for Meg Gadsbey’s Arrochar* cowl.

The suggested yarn for Arrochar is a DK or light worsted weight wool. Madelinetosh DK Twist, Kelbourne Woolens Scout, Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, and Malabrigo Rios would all work beautifully. But I used a silk/mohair lace weight on US 8/5.0mm needles. I chose a green Aerial as my main color and a purple Drizzle as my contrast. By dividing each skein in half and knitting with two strands held together, the result was everything I’d hoped for and more — feather light but still outrageously soft, cozy, and warm.

Would you like to make Arrochar or some other cowl or scarf pattern and substitute double- or even triple-stranded mohair/silk? Just ask us to weigh out your yarn and wind it into smaller cakes. We are also here to help with color advice. Different colors held together can be amazing. You can see that happening here in my Shibui Knits Gradient* cowl from 2012:

Another blast from the past, and one of our most popular shop samples, shows how harmoniously silk/mohair and a fingering weight can work together:

We still have a few printed copies of this Kristin Ford Shibui Knits Mix No. 3 shawl in stock. (This 2011 pattern has never been made available as a digital download.)

Shibui still likes to play with the same formula of mixing sections of silk/mohair knit alone with sections of it held with a heavier yarn — their Prism* pattern designed by Shellie Anderson was published on Ravelry only yesterday:

Prism would be beautiful with Aerial or Drizzle knit with a fingering weight such as Perennial from Kelbourne Woolens.

The takeaway here is that a yarn called for in a pattern is a suggestion only. When you want to create something uniquely your own, that’s when GYI can help. It’s what we’ve been doing since 2010 — helping you find just the right patterns and yarns to make it your way!

---

P.S. If you would like to knit with Madelinetosh DK Twist, Kelbourne Woolens Scout, Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, or Malabrigo Rios, may I suggest Romi Hill’s new free pattern, Warm the Line Beanie? Knit one for yourself and one for the person next to you in line on November 3rd!

• 

• 

---

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

Today is the 3rd Annual LYS Day, “a day to celebrate the brick and mortar yarn shop.” Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as it used to be.

As a small, locally-owned business, we are beyond grateful for the customers who have joined us in being as flexible and creative as possible in these past few months. That has meant connecting with each other in new ways. We are as happy to hear from you by phone or email as to welcome you to a socially-distanced visit to the shop. Whether we ship you your order, pack it for curbside pick-up, or help you choose the perfect yarns from our shelves, since we all love yarn, we will get through this!

---

One of the best parts of being your LYS is stocking what we know you love, and Woolstok has long been a favorite at GYI. We’ve brought back this wonderful 100% Peruvian Highland Wool worsted weight just in time for Blue Sky Fibers’ LYS Day offer of a free pattern. Purchase Woolstok at the shop today, 12-4 p.m., or call in your order. We will give you the BSF download code, which is good through September 13 on either ravelry.com or blueskyfibers.com.

Customers rave about Woolstok, calling it “the softest wool I’ve ever felt” and “a dream to work with.” Here are some of your Woolstok projects we’ve featured in the past few years…

Here’s one more shot of the Pemberton Pullover shown above, a new Blue Sky Fibers pattern for Woolstok, and one I’ll have on my needles very soon:

---

We’re keeping our “summer hours” for the indefinite future: Wednesday-Saturday, 12-4 p.m. It’s a nice balance of accessibility and safety for everyone. Plus you tell us that being able to make private shopping appointments that fit your schedule is one of the few good things to come out of 2020 so far!

What if you just need a fix? If your project is made with yarn purchased at GYI, there’s no charge if it needs a little TLC – a few dropped stitches or rows that need to be ripped back. Bring it in, labeled with your name, the name of the pattern and designer (if available), and your phone number, so we can call you when it’s ready. Repair fees may apply to more involved repairs or non-GYI projects.

We’re going to offer Zoom virtual instruction this fall. There will be a half-hour minimum, and payment will be required when you register and schedule your online session, just like an in-person class. If you don’t already have Zoom on your computer, it’s free to download and easy to use. Mobile apps are available from Google Play and the App Store for iPhone and iPad. So whether you want a technique explained or help with a project from start to finish, we can Zoom through it together. Full details coming soon.

---

Only one new FO, but it’s a special one. Lara finished her Dream in Color Smooshy socks, worked in a diagonal spiral rib pattern. They appeared as a UFO in the last post, and here they are all done. They’re special because they may be the last FOs we get to see in person from Lara for awhile, as she has moved out of state. We look forward to staying in touch with her – and all of you – as we must these days, by email, phone, and social media!

We’ve switched over to Summer Hours, now through Labor Day. We will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 12:00-4:00 pm. You can still schedule a private shopping appointment outside of regular business hours by calling the shop (570-287-9999) or emailing jill@goshyarnitshop.com.

As soon as we saw the new Cocoknits Needle Gauge, we knew we needed it: a bright rainbow stack of tiny connected discs for identifying knitting needle sizes US 0-15. The discs swivel out and click back together with tiny magnets (which makes it as much fun to play with as use) and tucks easily into your notions pouch. And because Cocoknits is committed to avoiding plastic wherever possible, it’s made from PLA, a 100% biodegradable, plant-based plastic substitute.

• 

• 

Wrist Rulers are perfect for measuring your in-progress stitching, very comfortable to wear, and they’ve also become a serious fashion trend. Expand your Wrist Ruler wardrobe from our six newest colors.

Speaking of trends, what will be the must-have yarn for fall/winter 2020? You are going to see mohair/silk blend yarns everywhere this coming season, either used alone or as a carry-along with another yarn for a soft halo effect. We have Berroco’s brand new Aerial in a beautiful palette of over a dozen colors for easy blending. It’s 65% mohair/35% silk, 284 yds/25g, made in Italy, and very well priced at $12/ball.

Tip: Adding a strand of mohair/silk to another yarn plumps your stitches and bumps your gauge down to fewer stitches per inch, so if your pattern calls for a worsted weight, for example, you might have to combine the mohair/silk with a lighter DK or even a sport weight to get the correct gauge for a single strand of a worsted weight used alone.

The Berroco 123 DropShip Program is still going strong. Order any amount of (almost) any of their yarns from us, even yarns we don’t normally carry, and they’ll ship directly to you or to GYI for pick-up; a minimal shipping charge applies with either option.

They are also continuing to produce a new kit with free pattern every week, with “retired” kits still available from their new 123 DropShip Store. It works the same way: call us and we can order only the amount of yarn you need in the color you want for direct delivery or store pick-up.

Their newest Project of the Week features best-seller Vintage, one of our core yarns. It’s a classic fisherman’s sweater in two versions: Retta, with an updated cropped silhouette, and Artin, with classic men’s styling. Both patterns are regularly $8 but free with the kit. You can see all available Vintage colors here. Many are in stock at GYI. You may be able to pick your yarn up from us, save on shipping, and we’ll include the pattern with your GYI purchase. To have yarn and pattern shipped directly to you, the Retta and Artin kits have an additional $10 charge. Vintage is 52% acrylic/40% wool/8% nylon; 218 yds/100g, made in Peru, $9.00/hank.

• 

• 

Our 50% Off Clearance Table still has some great bargains, including all remaining Regia, Lang, and Opal sock yarns and beautiful tweedy Providence, a 65% merino wool/20% baby alpaca/15% silk DK weight – wouldn’t this be lovely combined with a silk/mohair and used as a worsted weight for hats and scarves?

We also have a few colors remaining in sweater quantities of light, cottony 365 Cashmere from Lana Grossa at 50% off.

Kathy knit this great summer tank in a medium size with only 4 balls. 365 Cashmere is a chainette yarn, 77% cotton/15% cashmere/8% nylon, and machine washable. The pattern is Roman Holiday* from designer Sari Nordlund.

Such nice detailing…

We’re lucky to have a few more finished projects to share: Lara made her stockinette socks, far left, in Dream in Color Smooshy “Charged Cherry” and the ribbed socks, far right, in Smooshy “Prickly Pear”; stash yarns were used for the others.

Lara is working on a third pair of Smooshy socks in a diagonal spiral rib in “Valentine.” She used a stitch pattern from Kristen McDonnell. Lara says she “absolutely fell in love with the Smooshy.”

Linda finished this adorable Beyond Puerperium* in Ewe So Sporty from Ewe Ewe Yarns as a new baby gift.

And finally, Steven’s impeccable Study Hall Shawl, a free pattern by Sarah Schira. His yarn is Madelinetosh Twist Light.

Please send us pictures of your finished projects! Email original JPEG files (uncropped images and full size files preferred) to ann@goshyarnitshop.com. Be sure to include your name and the pattern and yarn used, so they can be shared here.

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) may be purchased at Gosh Yarn It!

Our mini trunk show of sweaters knit in cool BC Garn Lino will be on display in the shop for only a little while longer. While always best seen in person, here are the models, just in case you won’t be able to stop in before they need to go back.

Blackberry Fizz* by Sandi Prosser.

Pink Lemonade* by Patty Lyons.

Customers Bonnie and Tina contributed the finished projects I have to share this time around. First, Bonnie’s adorable Mini Gale* from designer Alicia Plummer in some Springvale Bulky from Three Irish Girls.

This wee poncho has two of my favorite things: a perfectly executed tubular cast on…

…and a perfectly chosen button.

Next is Bonnie’s completed cozy Cameron Hoodie* in Berroco Vintage. The pattern comes from Bobbi Intveld.

Unfortunately, I only know the yarn used in Bonnie’s third and final FO. This wonderful V-neck pullover was knit in Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. I’ll check back with Bonnie about the pattern name; if you’re interested, leave a comment so I can get it to you. There’s nothing like working at a fine gauge to make beautiful fabric.

Tina had only one FO with her on her most recent shop visit, but what an FO! Her Anwen from Jennifer Ward is nothing short of amazing. The yarn is Shibui Cima.

Anwen is made in two separate pieces worked up from the ends, then seamed in pattern at the center back with Kitchener stitch.

Enjoy one last shot of Tina’s stitching…

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available at Gosh Yarn It!

The Independence Day weekend is here, and so is our newest summer yarn:

Introducing Lino, a lustrous 100% Danish linen, a bit rustic at first touch but with a treat waiting once you start stitching: the more it’s handled, the silkier and more beautiful it becomes.

Our palette is all the colors we crave in the heat: cool neutrals, heavenly blues and greens. Lino is our first yarn from BC Garn, a Danish company known for organic and ecologically minded quality yarns offered at an affordable price. The yardage per 50g ball is 164yds (150m), and it can be machine washed on cool, gentle cycle.

While Lino is lovely knit at a small gauge in stockinette (as in the sweaters in designer Lone Kjeldsen’s Hør Collection, mentioned in a previous post, or really any of Ravelry’s pattern suggestions for Lino), being linen it also loves to be big and breezy. Here’s what I’m making for our shop sample on Size US 10 needles:

• 

• 

It’s called Urban Chic, and it’s from designer Yumiko Alexander. Pattern is available at the shop and on Ravelry. If you can knit, purl, make a yarnover, and work a tiny bit of cable twisting, you got this!