News

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:

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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!

It’s so good to be open and able to welcome you back to the shop and put yarn in your hands again. To kick off our first week in the Green Phase, as of Monday, June 22 our regular hours will be Monday-Thursday, 12:00-5:30; Friday-Saturday, 12:00-4:00. Private shopping appointments outside those hours may still be made by advance reservation. Like every other business these days, our safety rules are posted on our front door. Don’t forget your mask!

We love seeing what you’ve been working on these last 3 months. First is Gina’s jaunty Escape Bag by designer illitilli from the Summer 2018 issue of Knitscene. She used Berroco Modern Cotton. I am in awe of anyone who can so expertly set a grommet!

Below, Bonnie chose Dream in Color BFL Silk DK for her 3 Color Cashmere Cowl* by Joji Locatelli. The different fun stitches and striping tend to hide in the cowl’s soft, slouchy folds when worn, so I made sure to get at least one shot that showed all the goodness that’s in there. 

Tina created this gorgeous Ohla* stole from Finnish designer Anna Johanna with Drizzle from Sugar Bush Yarns and Shibui Cima. The two fine yarns, one a silk/mohair and the other an alpaca/wool blend, are held together; the Drizzle stars alone in the lace panels. Beautiful.

Joanne has yet another completed pair in her sock drawer. She worked with her favorite Simple Toe-Up Sock* Churchmouse pattern with an afterthought heel, perfect for contrasting heels. Her self-striping yarn is one of last summer’s Dream in Color Smooshy Sock-It! Club colorways.

If you’re also a fan of yarns that stripe and pattern themselves, remember our full line of Opal, Lang, and Regia sock yarns are currently 50% off!

Berroco Yarns is still running their 123 DropShip Program and offering Projects of the Week kits. Check their website for the latest kit offerings. Last week’s kits for Comfort yarn, the Solaria and Moderne baby blankets, even included a free (!) copy of their 50 pattern book, Comfort Knitting & Crochet: Babies & Toddlers. Berroco can fill orders for their kits as long as supplies last, so we’d be happy to check on availability for you of any of their Projects of the Week, as well as place à la carte orders with the 123 DropShip Program.

Many thanks to Brigid for taking the pictures of Joanne’s socks and Gina’s bag when they visited the shop.

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

We are now open Monday-Saturday, 12:00-4:00 p.m. for the initial “Yellow Phase” of COVID-19-related business restrictions. We are carefully following all recommended CDC guidelines. Bring your mask!

What’s new in the store?

Dream in Color Smooshy

Need we say more?

Baggu Bags

We have Baggu reusable bags back in stock, both colorful new prints in ripstop nylon and mesh fabric in bright solids. These useful totes are so popular because they are as durable as they are pretty. They fold up into their own handy pouches to go everywhere you go.

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Berroco Aerial

We could not resist Berroco’s newest yarn Aerial, 65% kid mohair/35% silk, that comes in a super sophisticated color palette. At $12 per ball for 284 yds/25g, Aerial is ideal to carry along with another yarn to add a soft halo or heavenly to knit or crochet holding two or three strands together. Made in Italy.

Rowan Kits

Like Berroco, Rowan is now offering some lovely kits for custom order. What could be easier? They’ve created 4 kits, each available in multiple colorways, that are a perfect opportunity to sample some of their beautiful yarns at a special price: Cotton Cashmere, Summerlite 4 Ply, Island Blend, and Kidsilk Haze.

Pick your kits and colors, email jill@goshyarnitshop.com, and we will order just for you! Flat rate shipping for all kits is an additional $7.95, whether delivered directly to you or to GYI for pick up in-store or curbside.

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012 Wrap from MODE at Rowan
Size: 18″ wide x 89″ long; kit includes 5 balls of Summerlite 4 Ply and 2 balls of Kidsilk Haze and a printed pattern, $69.50
Summerlite 4 Ply: 100% Cotton; 191yds/50g
Kidsilk Haze: 70% Cashmere/30% Silk; 229yds/25g

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Lima Cowl or Scarf Kit
Scarf Size: 6″ wide x 51.25″ long / Cowl Size: 8″ wide x 39.25″ circumference; kit includes 1 hank of each color of Island Blend and a printed pattern, $48.00
Island Blend: 70% Falkland Fine Merino/15% Baby Alpaca/15% Silk; 137yds/50g

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Marike Cowl
Size: 9.5″ wide x 26″ circumference; kit includes 2 balls of Cotton Cashmere and a printed pattern, $25.50
Cotton Cashmere: 85% Cotton/15% Cashmere; 137 yds/50g

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Ida Shawl
Size: 23″ deep x 59″ long; kit includes 5 balls of Cotton Cashmere and a printed pattern, $64.50
Cotton Cashmere: 85% Cotton/15% Cashmere; 137 yds/50g

Berroco continues to offer Project of the Week kits, and their 123 Drop Ship Program for yarn purchases is still going on, shipping direct-to-you or GYI for in-store or curbside pick-up.

COMING SOON:

If you love linen as much as we do, you will love BC Garn Lino, imported from Denmark by Kelbourne Woolens. Lino is a lustrous, yet rustic, linen yarn. It is suitable for hand knitting, crochet, weaving and machine knitting and all kinds of garments. Lino is softer than most pure linen yarns, and the more linen is used the softer and more beautiful it becomes!

100% linen
164 yards (150 meters) / 50 gm skein
US 2-6 (2.5-4 mm) / 31 sts x 32 rows = 4” (10 cm)
Machine wash cool, lay flat to dry

I’m already planning to make at least one of the sweaters from designer Lone Kjeldson’s HØR* Collection, created especially for Lino. But which one?? Right now, I’m leaning toward HØR No. 2, below. But all the suggested patterns on Ravelry for this yarn are tempting!

* Hør is the Danish word for linen or flax.

Next post: Customer finished projects return!

Things are looking up! Beginning Wednesday, June 3, we will be open Monday through Saturday, 12:00-4:00 p.m. These will be our hours until Luzerne County is ready for the Green Phase of Pennsylvania’s business restrictions.

If needed, private shopping appointments can be arranged outside those times. To make a reservation, please call 570-287-9999 or email jill@goshyarnitshop.com.

In the first draft of this post, all the COVID-19 safety precautions came next. Talk about burying the lede! Here’s what you need to know: we’re having a clear-the-shelves SALE!!

With so many gorgeous summer and fall season yarns beckoning, we desperately want to fill our shelves with new yarn for you. We hope a half-price sale on some of your favorites will help make room.

All printed patterns and back issues of Interweave KNITS and Knitscene are on sale for $2, and most remaining books are 40% off.

To kick things off, a shipment of new shades of Dream in Color Smooshy is just in, and you absolutely must see the KnittinBro Sock from local indie dyer Doug Lopez in person. I’ll have pictures of the skeins of Smooshy ready for the next post (what’s left, that is.)

So, finally, here’s the important “fine print.” By now I’m sure you know the drill; CDC and PA Department of Health COVID-19 Guidelines are being strictly followed:

• Masks or cloth face coverings must be worn at all times
• Social distancing of 6’ or more mandatory for all customers and staff
• Number of persons in-store will be limited; you may have to wait briefly and be called from your car before entering
• You may call ahead for curbside pick-up during store hours
• No instruction, sit-down stitching, or refreshments can be offered until the Green Phase
• While-you-wait yarn winding will not be available
• We will need time to clean and disinfect all contact areas between customers. We appreciate your patience!

Governor Wolf has given Luzerne County the green light to “go yellow” on May 29th and lift many of the restrictions placed on non-essential businesses back in March. When we’re satisfied that the shop can re-open in the most responsible manner for the safety of all our customers and staff, we will be announcing a date!

I am so grateful to customers who have sent pictures of their finished projects for me to share with you over these last two months. Let’s start this post with a pair of summery Derecho* sweaters from Ann W., who knows Alison Green’s pattern, paired with Berroco Remix, is so nice, it’s worth making twice! Ann gave the teal one, shown freshly blocked, to a friend. She is keeping the pale green one, pictured fresh off the needles, for herself.

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If there were a prize for “Most Pandemic Projects Shared” it would have to go to Joanne. Her beautiful handiwork has been featured in previous posts. Here are five more, beginning with her OOAK Colorwork Socks in Blues in Manos del Uruguay Alegria. She followed the toe-up sock with reverse French Heel directions from The Sock Knitter’s Handbook by Schurch and Parrot and added a portion of the colorwork pattern from Caoua Coffee’s Invitation to the Dance socks on Ravelry, using the “slip stranding” technique.

Another Joanne “original,” a cozy hat with fold up brim and crown worked in bee stitch. Yarn is HiKoo SimpliCria.

This light and lacy cowl was knit in Berroco Folio. Take a tip from Joanne’s creation – cowls are a great way to feature a favorite stitch pattern!

Joanne chose Malabrigo Rasta in Archangel for this Makena* hat designed by Alexandra Alfonso.

And finally, Joanne adapted a free pattern called Nurmilintu by Heidi Alander for this casual shawl. She used Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the color Worn Denim. She wrote, “I had trouble with the lace chart, and after I ripped it out for the third time, I went with simple eyelets.” She added that this time around, she won the Yarn Chicken game with less than a gram of yarn left.

Crocheter Annmarie sent this shot of her beautiful shell stitch scarf made in our newest Knittinbro Sock in the colorway It’s 5 PM Somewhere.

I can end with a true labor of love: Gina custom knit this adorable pullover for a friend’s grandchild using the Strange Brew “recipe” for colorwork sweaters from Tin Can Knits. The yarn is Ewe Ewe Yarns Ewe So Sporty. Lucky little one!

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) will be available at GYI through the Ravelry In-Store Download Program once the shop re-opens.

What’s new: KNITTINBRO YARNS
We just couldn’t wait to bring you this collection of bold, bright yarns from local indie dyer Doug Lopez of Frackville!

Introducing KnittinBro Socks, 463 yard (100g) skeins of tightly twisted fingering weight 4-ply 75% superwash Merino wool/25% nylon, $28. 3 skeins of each color available.

Top: Grapefruit, Red Velvet, Chill Out, All of the Lights 
Middle: Fly Away, Lehigh, Secret Code, Mesmerized
Bottom: Split Cedar, Emerald Dreams, Golden Hour, It’s 5pm Somewhere

Call 570-287-9999 or email jill@goshyarnitshop.com and be sure to include your phone number. We will call to confirm your order. Free domestic shipping on 2 or more skeins. Front porch drop-off delivery to Wilkes-Barre/West Side and Back Mountain is also available.

LYS Day 2020 was to have been April 25 but has been officially postponed until September 12. Designer Casapinka, bless her heart, decided that closed LYSes could use some help right now and is offering her annual LYS Day free-pattern-with-LYS-purchase as a Ravelry download from Friday, April 24 through midnight (Pacific Time) Sunday, April 26. Casapinka’s project page explains it all here.

Since we can all use a pretty knitting project to remind us to be calm, breathe, and hope for better times, we present Breathe and Hope:

Wait? What kit? GYI is closed! How can you buy yarn and get Casapinka’s pattern? Well…

DETAILS: Because Gosh Yarn It! cannot open and doesn’t have an e-commerce site, you cannot literally buy 2 skeins of yarn from us this weekend to qualify for your free copy of Casapinka’s Breathe and Hope pattern. But that won’t stop us!

We want to honor the spirit of Casapinka’s creativity and generosity: Request your pattern NOW and purchase yarn LATER (see Note below). Email me at ann@goshyarnitshop.com so that I can send you your download code for Casapinka’s pattern before 9:00 p.m. EST Sunday evening (sorry, I’m not staying up until 3 a.m.). Include the following “Casapinka Pledge” by copying and pasting it into your email:

I will do my best to purchase 2 skeins of fingering weight yarn from GYI in the future, enjoy my LYS Day gift from Casapinka now, and keep calm and knit on!!

As a tease about what “later” yarns await you, Jill just re-ordered armloads of our beloved Smooshy from Dream in Color; our first collection of KnittinBro Sock Weight from local Pennsylvania dyer Douglas Lopez, a.k.a. KnittinBro, is about to make its debut; and there’s even wistful talk about bringing back Alegria from Manos del Uruguay.

Note: Once you’ve downloaded your Breathe and Hope pattern from Ravelry, you may not be able to wait to cast on. We get it! If you already have the perfect 800 yards of fingering weight in your stash, go for it. Your future 2-skein purchase can be for any project.

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More wonderful support for shuttered LYSes comes from Berroco. They’ve created their 123 DropShip Program to allow you to order any amount of any Berroco yarn from us – even brands we don’t normally stock, including from their partners Lopi, Amano, WOOLADDICTS, and Lang. Check out their FAQ flyer here. Links are included to “virtual yarn catalogs.” Getting your yarn with the DropShip Program is easy:

1. Select yarns
2. Place your order with Gosh Yarn It!
3. Berroco ships from their warehouse in Rhode Island directly to your doorstep via USPS for flat-rate $7 shipping

To order, call 570-287-9999 and leave a message or email jill@goshyarnitshop.com – be sure to include your phone number. We will call you to confirm your Berroco order and accept payment.

Berroco is also curating a kitted “Project of the Week,” as part of the 123 DropShip Program. The next kit will make Broderie by Alison Green. It includes 3 skeins of Berroco Millefiori Light and a copy of the pattern, regularly $8. There are 5 colorways to choose from. This is the same shawl worn by Laura Dern in the movie Little Women. These kits can be ordered only from GYI with a phone or email order, as above. For information on this and future Project of the Week kits, subscribe to Berroco’s KnitBits email newsletter from berroco.com.

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And right here in Wilkes-Barre, Tyler Rice and his screen printing business AxelRad started The Shirt Off Our Backs program. It’s a great way to support your local yarn shop and other locally-owned small businesses through the purchase of limited edition t-shirts. Doesn’t the Gosh Yarn It! shirt look fantastic?

GYI receives a portion of the $15 cost of each of our shirts. All proceeds will help put new yarn on our shelves once the shop re-opens. Shirts are mailed directly to customers for flat-rate $5 shipping. But don’t wait. Order directly from AxelRad: Stores.inksoft.com/The_Shirt_Off_Our_Backs

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I think there’s still room to squeeze in a few FOs:

Above, Jill models her completed Cosette from Amy Christoffers in Berroco Pima 100. Knit side-to-side, this is a cotton sweater that will keep its shape while keeping you cool and comfortable. Below, Pima 100’s great stitch definition in Cosette.

(I took a skein of the same shade of Pima 100 and made…

…dishcloths!)

Our customer Krista made this delightful Pippin* hat in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok, color Cranberry Compote. Designer Melinda Measor’s pattern of twisted stockinette stitches looks so fun to knit.

Krista also sent in photos of her Orange Love Poncho by Gaye Glasspie. She used Berroco Vintage in Black Cherry. I hope Krista is getting plenty of chances to wear her cozy Orange Love.

Joanne’s been knitting socks while “sheltering at home.” Her output is amazing! First, a pair she calls “At Mom’s Request.” The yarn is Wonderland Cheshire Cat. Her original pattern uses the Reverse Gored Toe and Short Row Heel for toe-up socks from The Sock Knitter’s Handbook by Charlene Schurch and Beth Parrott. 

Next, her “I’ve Got the Lockdown Blues” socks feature Opal yarn, color Ingenier #9645. This time the toe-up toe is the Linen Stitch Toe from Karen Alfke’s Turbo Toes pattern in The Knitter’s Book of Socks by Clara Parkes, paired with the Reverse French Heel from The Sock Knitter’s Handbook by Schurch and Parrot.

Here are Joanne’s “Garden Rows” socks. She used her go-to pattern this time, Churchmouse’s Simple Toe-Up Sock, with Cascade Heritage Sock in Green #5659 and Alegria in Kohl and Ghostbusters.

And for a colorful finish, this latest pair is called “Paris in April,” knit toe-up in Lang Super Soxx City Runner in Color #220. She used the Reverse French Heel from The Sock Knitter’s Handbook. 

Please keep your photos of your FOs coming. Inspire your fellow knitters and crocheters. Email them to ann@goshyarnitshop.com and include both pattern and designer names and yarn(s) used. It’s a fun way to be close even while we are far apart. Stay healthy!

We hope you’re very well, and beautiful yarn is within easy reach. We send virtual hugs to everyone who has contacted us with requests for yarn and notions. If it’s on our shelves, we can get it to you, either by mail, parking lot pick-up at the shop, or even local delivery (West Side or Back Mountain). For fastest service, please email jill@goshyarnitshop.com directly.

And yes, if you need pattern support or technical help, feel free to email questions to me, ann@goshyarnitshop.com. I make no promises about my ability to correctly diagnose and successfully treat “oopses” long distance, but I’ll do my best to keep you in stitches.

Also, we’d love to see what you’re working on now. Use the same ann@ email address to send me your photos, be they FO or UFO. Over the last 10 years, we have showcased hundreds of our customers’ finished projects on our blog, and we don’t want to stop now. (Did you know all our older posts can still be viewed on our website? Scroll down to the bottom of the current News page to click back through pages 2-26.)

Alas, not many FOs this time around – the first two are the last two that visited the shop before “non-essential” (harrumph) small businesses like ours had to close. What we lack in quantity, however, is more than compensated for in quality:

Above, Joanne’s high-contrast socks in her favorite sock pattern, Simple Toe-Up Sock* from Churchmouse in Frolicking Feet from Done Roving Yarns and Frog Tree’s Pediboo.

Below, Joan’s spectacular Speckles* sweater by Casapinka. Joan kindly sent me her own picture of the entire sweater. The close-up photos, showing the reverse stockinette fabric of Madelinetosh DK Twist in the colorway Tiny House, were taken at GYI.

Love the design but don’t love purling? No problem. Casapinka has you knit Speckles inside-out so there is no purling.

I’ll toss in two FOs of my own because what better to make you smile than kids in handknits? Several years ago, I test knit a sweater for Lori Versaci called Baby Sequences using Wonderland Cheshire Cat. Lori continued to re-work the design, eventually publishing it as Playtime. I gave the 12-month size I’d made to my granddaughter this Christmas, and recently received this photo:

Yes, I got gauge, but clearly that 12-month size still has plenty of growing room for 18-month old Harriet. Then there’s my Apple Cheeks Hat* from a pattern by Milja Uimonen. It’s now my go-to baby hat. The yarn is stashed Liberty Wool from Classic Elite Yarns, one of many small yarn companies, including Frog Tree, which, sadly, have gone out of business since GYI opened.

(Doesn’t everyone block their baby hats over an ostrich egg in a pitcher?)

Above, the hat after blocking and before sending to my great-niece Sylvie; below, the happy and healthy new owner. Stay the same yourselves, folks! Hope to see you soon.

Note: Patterns marked with an asterisk (*) are available on Ravelry now and will be available at GYI once we are open again!

Technical difficulties prevented this announcement from appearing here until we discovered the problem today, April 3. Our apologies for any confusion this may have caused. Our shop remains closed until further notice during the current health crisis.