News

The trees are every imaginable shade of green. We’ve already flipped the heat off and the air conditioning on a few times. Planning for our 6th annual summer camp is in high gear. It’s spring at last!

When thinking about which cool, no- or low-wool yarns to feature this year, we realized there weren’t any we loved more than Berroco Modern Cotton and Fibre Company Luma, so we’ve re-stocked both in lots of new colors.

Modern Cotton gets its lovely hand from a blend of Pima cotton and Modal rayon. On the needles it’s a joy to work with, and once off it’s super easy to care for. Use this workhorse worsted year-round for blankets and afghans, wool-free clothing, and soft shawls and wraps – whenever you want a fabric that has a little drape, a lot of silky shine, and great stitch definition.

We now have a model of Diggory*, a child’s pullover from Berroco that really shows off how well Modern Cotton shows off stitch patterns.

I had to give up trying to get all the new colors into one photograph.

I recently heard Luma described as “the perfect DK.” Agree. This yarn was designed for light, comfortable layering, which means you can reach for it any time of the year. The fiber blend is 50% merino wool, 25% organic cotton, 15% linen, 10% silk. The new colors are yummy. Below, Chambray.

Our shop sample of the Stone Point Poncho* is still one of our most popular models. Easy to see why, since it’s so easy to wear.

Pattern Spotlight

We have a mindless (and so far nameless) knitting pattern* to recommend. It’s a project you start in the summer to have ready for winter. It’s ideal for when you need to knit something foolproof, maybe when you are a passenger in a car, plane, bus, train, or boat? First you pick a silk/mohair yarn.

Brigid created our model with five colors of Sugar Bush Yarns Drizzle silk/mohair. It’s more a recipe than a pattern – it’s that easy:

Cast on 100 stitches, join to work in the round. Knit 50 round stripes, then 20 round stripes, and bind off. Done!

Make it solid. Make it even stripier than ours. Use the needle size that makes a fabric you like. Brigid used a US 8/5mm, but you might prefer going down as small as a US 6/4mm or up to a 5.5mm. One thing’s for sure: you will love wearing so much airy mohair fluffiness when the cold weather returns!

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

 

 

When January lasts 119 days, you do get a nice long winter knitting season! The finished projects I’m sharing in this post were all brought in yesterday – that’s a whole lot of knitting that’s been going on lately.

Mary Beth spotted our class on Stephen West’s Vertices Unite* on the spring calendar and kindly brought in the two beautiful versions she has completed. Yarn color choice and placement guarantee that every Vertices Unite will be unique – one of the things I love about this pattern and a big reason why I chose it for a class. (Another reason being West’s clever patchwork construction. If you’d like to make one yourself, see our class schedule for details.)

Stephanie shared a yummy hat she named “Sugarplum” in her Ravelry projects, the #10 Maruna Hat by Irina Anikeeva from the Late Winter 2017 issue of Vogue Knitting. Her yarn is SimpliCria from HiKoo, a dreamy chainette super baby alpaca that was in the shop and gone all too soon.

Steven brought in two fantastic hats worked in Malabrigo Rios in Yerba (green) and Sabiduria (purple). The first one is Stephen West’s Botanic Hat*.

The second is this sassy adult version of the classic Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap – Hesh by Malia Mae, a free pattern on Ravelry.

Below, Carolyn’s Passerine Hat* from designer Erica Heusser in madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. The birds were worked in stranded knitting with just a single Unicorn Tail of 52 yards of Merino Light.

What could she wear with such a charmer of a cap? How about her New Berlin Gansey from Amy Christoffers? The colors coordinate beautifully. Carolyn made it her own with some clever alterations for better fit. Her yarn is Arranmore Light from The Fibre Company.

Yesterday was not only a busy day for FO photos, it was also the third and final Gosh’s Guests presentation for Spring 2018. Tina Woodward gave a fascinating talk on embroidering on knits. She shared such creative ideas, techniques, and design resources. Her samples alone made you want to thread a needle and start stitching.

A few of her embroidered knits…

Tina gave us lots of hints for different stabilizers, canvases, and ways to transfer patterns onto knitted fabric.

She recommended designers she follows on Instagram…

…and brought in her favorite books from her collection.

As Gosh’s Guests Gina and Linda had before her, Tina delivered an outstanding program. We’re so grateful they accepted our invitation, and we know they’ve sparked a lot of imaginations. I expect to see more and more FOs that have been beaded, woven, and embroidered.

Would you like to be our Guest? We’re “booking” the fall season of Gosh’s Guests now and would love to hear from you!

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

•  April 21 was the first ever Local Yarn Store Day. The shop was crowded and bustling all day long – thank you to everyone who visited! The only reason the Wyoming Valley has a local yarn shop is because of your support.  Let’s make every day an LYS Day. Come again soon!

Our free Gosh’s Guests speaker series wraps up its Spring season this Saturday, April 28, with Embroidery for Knitters with Tina Woodward.

Tina will present different techniques for embroidering knit fabrics, covering stitches and stabilizers to styles and motifs. Freehand stitchery can not only be used for embellishment (as on these darling mitts of Tina’s) but also for mending or hiding small holes or tears. Her talk starts at 2:00 p.m. Please join us at 1:00 p.m. for a BYOBag lunch. (The iced tea and cookies are on us.)

Last week’s amazing talk was given by Linda Mesavage on Little Looms. I wish I’d thought to count the many small portable looms she brought with her! She gave an entertaining, informative introduction to the wide variety of looms and weaving resources available. I did have the presence of mind to snap off a few photos…

 

Above, Linda demonstrating a Schacht Cricket rigid heddle loom. Below, attendees had plenty of time to examine the many finished woven pieces, magazines, and warped looms Linda shared with the group.

Below, Linda showing how to warp a Schacht Zoom Loom. By popular demand, we’ve ordered several of these fun updated pin looms. Will there be a Zoom Loom class in the future? Stay tuned!

Our first Gosh’s Guests program was Gina Thackara’s Beaded Knitting on April 14. That was another fascinating talk on a too-little-known technique. I didn’t have my camera handy that day, but I do have pix of two of Gina’s recent FO’s to share.

She chose Ewe So Sporty from Ewe Ewe Yarns for her adorable Baby Camilla Sweater. Her elegant Touchstone shawl from designer Laura Aylor was knit in Lang Dipinto. Touchstone is a free pattern on Ravelry.

Color My Stripes* by Lori Versaci is one of our newest shop models. Jill’s technicolor version beautifully shows off our Mary Ann fingering from Wonderland Yarns.

There’s a lot more creative talent out there, and we plan to schedule more Gosh’s Guests events come fall. Have an idea for one? Please let us know!

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

 

Note: If you’re looking for the schedule of events and exclusive offers coming up on Local Yarn Store Day, April 21, just flip back one post to our news from 04/12/18.

In this post, I have two beautiful FOs to share, Maureen’s Edlothia shawl from Jasmin Räsänen and Brigid’s riff on Anna & Heidi Pickles’ Simple Luxury shawls.

Brigid’s “Pickles” shawl is worked with a strand of Manos del Uruguay Maxima and a strand of Sugar Bush Drizzle silk/mohair. The two are knit together for rows and rows of simple garter stitch on large needles. Maxima is a worsted-weight strand of 100% extrafine merino wool. It’s super plump and super soft. Its silk/mohair companion adds a hint of shimmery shine and a glowing halo of warm fuzziness. The result is classic and luxurious yet easy enough to be a first shawl project.

 

Maureen used madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light, a full skein for her main color and various shades of mini-skeins, a.k.a. Unicorn Tails, to crochet her daughter’s delicate keepsake wedding shawl.

One of the best things about being an independent yarn shop is being a neighborhood gathering place for so many creative people, encouraging and inspiring one another. These two shawls started out as skeins of yarn on our shelves. We were lucky to be able to watch as the colors were selected and matched and, stitch by stitch, it was transformed into beautiful fabric. Then, finally – the best part! – the yarn drops in for one last visit to have its picture taken, all grown up now as a finished garment, to be shared here on the blog with you!

 

Woohoo! April 21 is the first ever Local Yarn Store Day!

We love being your neighborhood yarn shop, and we are celebrating for 3 days, April 19-21, by offering lots of exclusives that no online retailer or national chain store carries.  So many, in fact, I had to make a list:

Discount Drawing. Save on all full-price merchandise for 3 days, April 19-21. Will your discount be 10, 15, or 20%?

No cost, walk-in Technique Boosters – Saturday, April 21 only.
Yarn Substitution, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
Helical Striping, 12:00-12:30 p.m.

BYOBag Lunch, 1:00-2:00 p.m. – Saturday, April 21 only.
Drinks and dessert are on us – leave room for Brigid’s Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Little Looms with Linda Mesavage, 2:00 p.m. (part of our free speaker series, Gosh’s Guests) – Saturday, April 21 only.
Yarn ❤ Weaving! Linda can’t wait to share her love of weaving. She’ll bring a variety of small looms, warped and ready to try, and will demonstrate what each one can do.

Local Yarn Shawl pattern from Casapinka, an LYS exclusive, free with yarn purchase to make the shawl – any brand! – Saturday, April 21 only.

Casapinka’s design will be just as pretty in solid, gradient, fade, or striped yarns. Here are more color ideas…

Adventura shawl pattern, below, from Laura Nelkin, a choose-your-own-adventure pattern featuring Kelbourne Woolens’ new yarn Andorra – special pricing Saturday, April 21 only.

Adventura is another LYS-exclusive pattern. It will only be available for sale through Ravelry in-store sales at local yarn shops, but on Saturday it will be just $1. We have brought in a dozen shades of luxurious Merino/Mohair/Peruvian Highland Wool Andorra chosen just for Adventura.

What are the Adventura options? All three start the same: from the tip, with a neutral color, you knit a boomerang shape until almost all of that first color is gone. Then you work a few transition garter rows, and it is time to begin your adventure: if you want more of the same garter stitch, stick with Adventura A to work with the second color just as you did with the first until the border. If you want an eyelet mesh, choose Adventura B. If lace is what you crave, work Adventura C, a simple and elegant version of Pine Cone Lace and end with a garter border. Sounds like fun!

Dream in Color Jilly in a limited edition of 24 shades/24 skeins – Saturday, April 21 only.

Perfect for patterns that fade or as an add-in to a palette that could include madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. Jilly is a single-ply fingering-weight 100% merino that is heaven to work with. (And, of course, we love the name!)

A gift from Pom Pom: purchase a printed Pom Pom Magazine in-store, receive a coupon code for a free download for a second out-of-print issue – Saturday, April 21 only.

A gift from Ewe Ewe Yarns: the Ewe So Summer shawl pattern from The Unapologetic Knitter (a.k.a. Meaghan Schmaltz) – free with purchase Saturday, April 21 only.

On Saturday only, the pattern is free with a Ewe So Sporty yarn purchase. After that, the pattern will still only be available through Ravelry in-store sales at local yarn shops. The design uses slipped stitches and a modified seed stitch to create tiny transitioning pockets of color. Below, it’s shown with 7 colors, but you’re encouraged to mix and match your own combinations!

 

A gift from Plymouth Yarn Company: they are making 10 of their most popular paid patterns available for free April 20-21 only, only here at GYI. Just ask us for the one that’s your favorite!

Check back again for updates on the Local Yarn Store Day festivities. We hear every day from more wonderful yarn companies and designers with their support for this event!

 

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New yarn? Yes, please! If you can’t wait for Andorra from Kelbourne Woolens to make its debut on April 21, visit us now for Risoni from The Loom and our favorite Alpaca 2 from Isager yarns, back by popular demand.

 

Risoni is an amazing 100% silk yarn. Brigid knit up our shop model of the Dichromia Shawl on size US 8 needles. Pattern is free on Ravelry. Three skeins makes it.

Isager Alpaca 2 is a heavenly 50% alpaca/50% wool fingering weight. Some of our favorite designs are the suggested patterns for Alpaca 2 on Ravelry.

 

 

 

 

 

We are so excited. Our free speaker series, Gosh’s Guests, kicks off this Saturday with Gina Thackara’s presentation on Beaded Knitting at 2:00 p.m. Gina has chosen the Koigu Beaded Beret*, above, to illustrate how beautifully and easily beads can be added to your knitting. 

If you can join us for a BYOBag lunch, plan to arrive by 1:00 p.m. Drinks and dessert are on us.

To make the hat along with Gina, you’ll need to pick up the Churchmouse pattern and your supplies and knit the brim, up to beaded section, before Saturday. If you only want to practice the beading technique, you can purchase a kit for $7 that will include beads, crochet hook, and yarn. You will need to bring your own needles, either size US 2, 3, or 4.

Seating and kits are limited. Reservations are strongly recommended.

If you don’t already know Gina, you’re in for a treat. Gina says she’s “been knitting since she and Miss Marple were in middle school together.” When we asked what she loves about knitting, she had an answer ready, worthy of Miss Marple:

Every knitting project poses a mystery to be solved, be it a strange stitch or a difficult pattern. And by following the clues, one can get through to a solution — and possibly a lovely knitted object. Every pattern is basically a suggestion that gives some basics, and it is up to the knitter to suit himself/herself when it comes to the finished product. It is the skill involved that makes each knit unique. That’s why [I’m] an advocate of learning all kinds of new ways to manipulate yarn – and various accessories – to create something fun, beautiful or even wonderful.

Too many knitters think beads are only for intricate lace patterns. Here are a some other classic Churchmouse patterns that elegantly integrate beads. Whether for a hint of sparkle or to add just enough weight to an otherwise fly-away hem, beads are always in style.

Racing Raindrops Scarf*

Bias ‘Before & After’ Scarf*

 

Beaded Mohair Scarf* and English Mesh Lace Scarf*

 

We’re happy to special order Miyuki glass beads for you anytime. Ask to see our color card with 100+ colors to choose from to find the perfect match for your project.

Notice what a beautiful couple beads and silk/mohair make? We’ve added heavenly ITO Sensai to our selection of silk/mohair yarns, which also includes Sugar Bush Drizzle and Shibui Silk Cloud.

Joji Locatelli is one of the hottest designers around. Coincidentally, both FOs this post are hers. Amy knit her Hipster Shawl* in mYak Baby Yak Medium, the pattern’s suggested yarn. And it is gorgeous.

Joan made Joji Locatelli’s Tracie Shawl* with madelinetosh Pashmina. Another masterpiece!

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

 

We’re excited to announce a new speaker series beginning April 14: Gosh’s Guests. It’s free – please be our guest!

A brick-and-mortar yarn shop is more than yarn – it’s also a gathering place, a forum for sharing ideas and inspiration. Walk in any Saturday afternoon, join the group around our big table, and you’ll see what we mean. We thought, why not tap into this rich vein of creativity to bring even more voices to the conversation? That’s how the idea for Gosh’s Guests was born.

We’re delighted to announce our first three guests presenting in April. The talks are all on Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. If you can come early, join us at 1:00 p.m. and bring a bag lunch. Drinks and dessert are on us. Mark your calendar for these not-to-be-missed dates:

Saturday, April 14 – Beaded Knitting with Gina Thackara

Saturday, April 21 – Little Looms with Linda Mesavage

Saturday, April 28 – Embroidery for Knitters with Tina Woodward

Complete details are listed on the Events Calendar. While you’re there, you’ll see our new classes have been posted through July. You can also download the class calendar as a PDF. (Watch next month for news about our annual Summer Camp.)

And one more bit of BIG NEWS: The National Needlearts Association (TNNA) – the folks that present the yarn industry’s trade shows – have created Local Yarn Store Day in recognition of the unique role local yarn shops play. Saturday, April 21 is the first-ever, and you bet we’re celebrating!

In the morning, before Gosh’s Guest Linda Mesavage’s Little Looms presentation, there will be two free half-hour demos, since putting yarn in your hands and ideas in your head is what LYSes do best.

• Yarn Substitution, 11:00-11:30 a.m.
  Your pattern calls for one yarn, you want to work with another. Will you be happy with the results? We’ll show you how to switch yarns successfully.
• Helical Striping, 12:00-12:30 p.m.
  Here’s a little-known technique that completely eliminates the jog in stripes knit in the round and offers a better way to blend yarns from different balls.

There will be some new products from our lovely vendors, available exclusively to yarn shops, plus a few surprises, of course.

And, at last, your finished projects…

Gina worked up a sample of the Koigu Beaded Beret* from Churchmouse for her Gosh’s Guests Beaded Knitting talk on April 14. She used a gorgeous teal shade of Dream in Color Smooshy.

Bonnie’s latest Pablo the Serious Cat may be the cutest yet.

Look at that adorable face; she’s really perfected embroidering Pablo’s features. (Don’t miss Tina Woodward’s Embroidery for Knitters on April 28.)

Dawn brought in a commercially knit hat that she loved and wanted to recreate as a handknit. She figured out the pattern and pulled it off beautifully with some Maxima from Manos del Uruguay.

Denice also used Maxima for her new favorite Brioche Cowl*, one of our in-store patterns. (You may be able to see our shop model above her head on the shelf.)

I have an updated photo of the Wee Liesl* sweater I finished recently. Here it is worn by the young lady for whom I made it. I smile every time I see that smile!

I loved making this Ysolda Teague sweater so much, I created a class for it. If you have adorable handknit-worthy babies in your life, please join me May 19.

Rebecca’s Floral Trellis table runner in #10 crochet cotton makes the perfect show stopping finale. She says she’s been working on it for years, and I can believe it. So many stitches. But it was worth it!

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

 

 

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!

Until the weather really does start getting warmer, the best thing to do is make a Getting Warmer, an on-trend cowl from Espace Tricot. When the yarn is Tundra from The Fibre Company, a luxurious alpaca/merino/silk blend, you can pretty much ignore the wind chill factor. Jill’s, shown below, is Tundra in a fresh spring green. (Let’s hope February takes the hint.) Soft worsteds, like Malabrigo Rios or Manos Maxima, held together with a strand of silk/mohair, would be a fantastic substitute for the chunky yarn called for in the pattern.

Tina recently sent along photos of projects she has completed in the past few months. This adorable topdown sweater with a stranded colorwork yoke is Ysolda Teague’s wee Chickadee*, knit in madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light. The main color is Scout; the 3 contrast colors are all shades of Unicorn Tails.

Next is Tina’s elegant Tresna* shawl, also designed by Ysolda Teague, knit in Meadow from The Fibre Company.

 

Then Mae Bonnet* by Jennifer Wood, knit in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers…

…and Joelle Hoverson’s Baby Bonnet in a soft grey Rowan Pure Wool Superwash Worsted. The pattern comes from the book More Last Minute Knitted Gifts. (Also shown, Garter Ear Flap Hat from Purl Soho and Acorn Mitts by Ashley Yousling.)

Finally, Tina’s cheery Jones* from tincanknits in Holly Green Berroco Vintage DK.

Tina, as always, you are an inspiration – thank you for sharing your wonderful work.

Bonnie’s the amazing knitter behind the Candy Darling* from Kate Gagnon Osborn, above, and the Colette* beret from Julie Hays, below. For her stranded knitting, Bonnie chose tweedy Arranmore Light from The Fibre Company. Her hot pink beret is Maxima from Manos del Uruguay in Cactus Flower.

I’ll never know how Bonnie even found time to knit two hats, given the number of cats she has knit in the last few weeks. Here is Pablo The Serious Cat #5. The pattern comes from Nelly Shkuro. Cats #1-4 appeared in a previous post; #6 is almost finished and will, I hope, appear here soon!

Ready for more extreme cuteness? Here is Sharon’s River Otter*, a pattern from Sara Elizabeth Kellner. The pattern includes a tiny fish for him to munch on, but this little guy has much more expensive tastes: he’s caught a tasty LaPrawnda shrimp designed by Ashley Dorian Medwig. Otter’s name is George, and he’s made out of buttery soft Llama Lluxury from Southwest Trading Co. His shrimp dinner is a madelinetosh Unicorn Tail.

Looking for your next project? There’s lots more inspiration to be found in the latest issue of Interweave Knits that just arrived in store. Also, if you’re ready for a skill booster or two, our upcoming classes cover many of the techniques used in the finished projects shown here, such as topdown sweater construction, stranded knitting, and cabling.

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

 

Once again this year, Jane stepped forward and coordinated the gift of handmade hats for kids in Misericordia University’s Women with Children Program, which “empowers economically disadvantaged single mothers by providing the opportunity to complete a college degree” while living on campus with their children. (Can you believe it’s one of only eight such programs in the United States?) A huge thank you to Jane and to all who participated: Bonnie, Karen, Brigid, Carolyn, Wanda, Catherine, and Linda. They knit and crocheted hats for 19 youngsters. Jane says the kids and moms were thrilled with all the creative hats, custom made in each child’s favorite color. Look at those smiles!

Jane just kept right on making hats. Check out the cuteness of little Mr. J. in his Troll hat. The yarn is Manos del Uruguay Maxima. The pattern is free on Ravelry, courtesy of designer Gabriela Widmer-Hanke.

Sharon used Malabrigo Chunky and the free pattern The World’s Simplest Mittens from Tin Can Knits for these fun mitts for her daughter. Written for 4 different gauges, this pattern could be your go-to for mittens in fingering, DK, worsted, or bulky weight yarn.

Our good friend Rusty visited this month from her home in sunny California. She was braving the January cold in style with her Quelque Chose* from Onanoko. She used two yarns held together, our Filatura di Crosa Superior and some stash Habu Tsumugi Silk. To make it now (and I think I’m going to have to because I’m a sucker for puckers and welts), I’d grab some silk/mohair – Shibui Silk Cloud or Drizzle from Sugar Bush – and a few skeins of either Malabrigo Silkpaca or some Shibui Cima, and I know I’d love the results. First, the close-ups…

…then the shots that show the actual shape: a rectangle with a crocheted edging, which acts as a row of buttonholes, and buttons along one edge of one end. Très versatile!

The back of the pattern even shows some of the many ways it can be worn.

Here’s another versatile design, Churchmouse’s Half & Half Cowl*. Jill knit a beauty in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers. Churchmouse describes the construction this way:

The first half of this ribbed cowl is knitted flat to split over one shoulder or create an opening in the front or back. Then, it’s joined in the round for a softly draping cowl or collar. Tubular cast-on and bind-off lend a sophisticated, ready-to-wear finish. Frontwards, backwards, upside down—wear it any way you like!

Until our next shipment of Woolstok comes through the front door, I’d say this pattern is a natural for either mYak Baby Yak Medium or Malabrigo Rios.

Linda is another Woolstok fan. She used it for her Multi-Pane Mittens designed by “our own” Carolyn Kern. Love, love this pattern. (And I know every stitch is right where it belongs!)

If you love Opal sock yarn, you know new colorways are released throughout the year in collections. (Most yarn companies introduce new colors only twice, for spring/summer and fall/winter.) We got a preview of what’s on the way when our Opal sales rep visited recently. It was love at first sight, and we signed up for the next three groups. While we wait, we’ve brought in some classic Hundertwasser shades to tide us over. They won’t be around long, though, so come in soon for the most colorful selection.

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