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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!

 

 

You can always find our updated class calendar under the Classes tab, which will include class supplies, but here on the blog you get pictures!

KNITTING 101
Saturday, February 3 / 9:00-10:00 AM
Learn how to cast on, knit and purl, and bind off. All materials provided in class. Participants receive 10% New Knitter Discount for all purchases made that day.
Fee: $15
Also offered March 3 & April 7 / 9:00-10:00 AM

OOPS: FIXING MISTAKES IN KNITTING
Saturday, February 3 / 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Learn to recognize the structure of good knit and purl stitches so you’ll know what to do when one goes wrong, including how to pick up dropped stitches, un-knit, rip back, and remake incorrect stitches. Some pre-class homework required.
Fee: $25
Also offered March 21 / 1:30-3:00 PM

SEAMLESS TURKISH BED SOCKS
Saturday, February 3 / 1:30-3:30 PM
These clever slipper socks are great for wearing around the house, with clogs, or when traveling. The original pattern includes several handsewn seams, but clever knitters on Ravelry have come up with several modifications to knit them seamlessly. Learn their best tips!
Fee: $30

STRANDED KNITTING STUDY GROUP
Wednesday, February 7; March 7; April 4  / 2:00-3:00 PM
This is a regular get-together for stranded knitters on the first Wednesday of the month. It’s not a class, and there is no cost to attend. The best way to become proficient in this technique, also known as Fair Isle knitting, is practice, practice, practice, so that’s what we will do together! Participants invited to bring their own projects and share any tutorials, patterns, videos, etc. that they’ve found helpful.
Fee: Free

BUILDING WITH LACE: Lace Sampler Shawl
Saturday, February 10 / 9:30-10:30 AM – 5 Saturday* sessions; continues March 10, April 14, May 12 & June 9 / 9:30-10:30 AM
Michelle Hunter brings her beloved Building Blocks method to lace with a sampler-style stole. This skill-building series includes both written and charted directions, some lace history, and plenty of tips and tricks to take you from novice to confident lace knitter in 10 sequential lessons. Also ideal for more experienced lace knitters, who will enjoy working so many different patterns and lace techniques.
Fee: $60
*Remaining 5 sessions TBD at convenience of participants.

HERMIONE’S EVERYDAY SOCKS
Saturday, February 10 / 11:00 AM-12:00 PM – 3 Saturday sessions; continues February 24 / 11:00 AM-1:00 PM & March 10 / 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
This sock pattern has more projects on Ravelry than any other – over 21,000! It’s a classic cuff-down/heel flap design that’s a great choice for a first pair of socks. All three techniques for knitting socks will be discussed: using double point needles, 2 circulars, and the Magic Loop method with one long circular needle.

FIDRA HAT
Saturday, February 10 / 1:30-3:30 PM
You made hats for everyone else, now make a special one for yourself! This is a quick knit on big needles with chunky yarn using a charted pattern and a fun technique of alternating two different cast-on methods for the ribbed brim.
Fee: $30

CITY CREEK COWL
Wednesday, February 14 / 1:00-3:00 PM
Give yourself the best Valentine: a cozy cabled cowl to warm your heart (and neck) until spring finally arrives. This is a great beginner cable project. You’ll learn to read simple cable charts and how to match your stretchy cast-on with a more secure bind-off. Class sample worked in mYak Baby Yak Medium (100% baby yak, 125 yards/50g) on US 9/5.5mm needles.
Fee: $30

BRADWAY SHAWL
Saturday, February 17 / 9:00-11:30 AM
This classic striped triangular shawl has textured twisted ribbing and knit/purl stitch patterns that are easy enough for a beginner and make for a fun and relaxing knit for more experienced knitters. You’ll learn four different ways to “make one” and why each method works best where it’s placed.
Fee: $35

SUSIE ROGERS’ READING MITTS
Saturday, February 17 / 12:00-2:00 PM
Using your preferred method for small circumference circular knitting, you’ll learn how to fold and finish off a picot edging as-you-knit (no seaming later!) to make these elegant fingerless mitts.
Fee: $30
Also offered Wednesday, April 18 / 1:00-3:00 PM

ELISBETH HEADBAND
Wednesday, February 21 / 2:00-4:00 PM
There’s plenty of wintry weather left, and this cozy headband from Chic Knits’ Elisbeth Collection is the accessory you need right now. Learn how to make cables twist and travel, follow written and charted cable directions, and how to cast on provisionally for the 3-needle bind off.
Fee: $30

UMARO BLANKET 
Saturday, February 24 / 9:00 AM-10:30 AM
With bridal and baby shower season fast approaching, this textured blanket with an all-over design knits up quickly on US 10 needles. Umaro is charted only. You’ll learn to read the lace, cable, and knit/purl symbols and how to make your own custom size blanket using smaller yarn and needles than called for in the original pattern.
Fee: $25

ANKER’S JACKET
Wednesday, February 28 / 1:30-3:00 PM – 3 sessions; continues March 14 & 28 / 1:30-3:00 PM
Here’s a sweet unisex top-down round yoke cardigan sweater. It’s a great introduction to seamless construction and picking up stitches for button bands. Annotated instructions explaining “at the same time” directions and metric sizing conversions will be provided.
Fee: $60

BEVEL SCARF
Saturday, March 3 / 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
Bevel is our favorite piece from Jared Flood’s latest “BT Winter 18” pattern collection. With just garter stitch and an ingenious construction method, you can achieve striking results with the simplest of knitting techniques. Can be made in 2 sizes with 4 colors of either fingering or DK weight yarn.
Fee: $30

PURLESS SHAWL
Saturday, March 24 / 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
That’s right – not a single purl in this easy-to-wear asymmetrical shawl from Romi Hill. Contains both written and charted directions. Can be made with either fingering, DK, or worsted weight yarn. Learn several options for short row shaping, as well as how to modify the pattern for 2 or more colors.
Fee: $45

LINEATE HAT
Saturday, April 7 / 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
New to 2-color stranded knitting? Lineate, a bold striped slouch hat, is the perfect way to practice holding your yarn in both hands without having to worry about following a charted pattern.
Fee: $30

CHANGING LIGHT SHAWL
Saturday, April 14 / 11:00 AM-1:00 PM – 2 sessions; continues April 28 / 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Learn the disappearing loop (pinhole) cast-on to make this ethereal stole. Colors alternate through sections of stripes, lace mesh, and garter stitch, drifting from dark to light.
Fee: $45

DESIGN YOUR OWN CLASS: Private Instruction
What would you like to learn? Design your own private lessons in knitting or crochet. You pick the project and/or the techniques. Register for a single hour-long lesson or save when you purchase two or more classes, which can be scheduled at mutually convenient times. Want to work on the same project with friends? Groups of up to 3 can be accommodated at the same time.
Fees: 1 class – $15; 2 classes – $27.50; 3 classes – $40

 

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GYI CLASS POLICIES

• With the exception of Knitting 101, basic knitting skills are required to attend our classes. You must know how to knit, purl, cast on, and bind off. If you’d like help mastering the fundamentals before taking a class, please take our Knitting 101 instruction.

• Payment is due at registration. Fees are non-refundable unless class is cancelled by Gosh Yarn It!  Class withdrawals will be accepted with 2 weeks advance notice and store credit will be issued for class fee. If less than 2 weeks notice is given, store credit will be given only if we can fill your space in the class with another student.

• Gosh Yarn It! reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes that do not meet the required minimum enrollment of 3 students; class fees can be be refunded or held as store credit to be used for enrollment in future classes or private instruction. Any class cancelled due to inclement weather will be re-scheduled.

• Supplies for Knitting 101 are included in the class fee. Unless otherwise noted, however, materials are not included in fees.

• We really do appreciate your business and give participants a 10% discount on all in-stock supplies required for classes. To avoid disappointment with your finished product, we ask that you purchase all your class materials at GYI.

• Bring basic notions with you to class, including scissors, round and locking stitch markers, a small crochet hook (“fixer”), and a darning needle.

• Please purchase supplies and wind yarn prior to class. If this is not possible, please arrive in plenty of time before session begins to do so. A yarn winder and swift are available for student use.

Have you noticed that January is now being called the month for “selfish knitting”? The reasoning goes that all gift knitting for the holidays is finished, and – for at least 31 days – we should be knitting only what we want for ourselves. I’ve been around enough knitters to know the “us vs. them” battle rages all year long. I hear “I never knit for other people” as often as “I give away everything I make.”

Right now, I have one of Jared Flood’s Turn A Square hats almost done. It started out as a gift, but the intended recipient gave the helical striping a thumbs down. Since I totally love the stripes, I’m going to keep it for myself. Does that count as “selfish knitting”? Either way, I’ll be the warmer for it, since the yarn I’m using is delicious mYak Medium. How about you? What’s on your needles this month?

In this post, “them” is definitely winning out over “us,” and it’s easy to see why. Here are three adorable child-friendly projects, starting with Gina’s Mice Socks, knit in Cascade 220 Sport.

The cute pattern comes from the book Knitted Animal Scarves, Mitts and Socks by Fiona Goble. I found it available free online, on what I hope is a site authorized by the author, here.

Sandy has been working on her Googly-Eyed Gator baby blanket for… let’s just say “awhile.” Designed by Ashley Rao, the pattern appears in the book 60 Quick Baby Blankets (available at GYI). She used Sirdar Snuggly DK. Sandy freely admits she jumped into the deep end with this project, having to learn several new techniques along the way, but she has created a masterpiece of intarsia knitting.

Bonnie chose Ultra Wool for her sweet Schleifchen Cloche* from Stephanie Carton. You know I just had to look up the German/English translation. My one year of college German taught me that -chen is a suffix that creates a diminutive, but what did Schleife mean? Ribbon! Voilà… the “little bow cloche.”

Stella, however, is squarely in the “us” camp. Her scarf uses no pattern, just simple 1×1 ribbing and soft ombré Gomitolo 200 from Lana Grossa. With one ball weighing in at a generous 200g/765 yards, she cast off at the desired length with more than enough yarn left to make a matching pair of armwarmers – for herself, of course.

The next post will sing the praises of two of our favorite yarns that will be fully restocked next week: Ultra Wool worsted and Vintage (both worsted and chunky weights) from Berroco. Watch for lots of pattern ideas for these workhorse yarns!

There’s nothing we enjoy more than seeing GYI yarn come back to the shop as your finished projects. Christine visited last week wearing her Piega* cowl in Shibui Silk Cloud and Baby Alpaca. Designed by Kristin Ford, Christine said it is one of her favorite pieces. (We love hearing that!)

Penny came in later the same day wearing her lovely Gradient cowl, the perfect complement to her smart grey jacket.The pattern comes from Shibui Knits and is worked entirely in triple-stranded Silk Cloud in easy seed stitch.

Brigid brought in a stack of amazing hats she worked on over the holidays. First up, her Tundra Bay Toque* was done in Woolstok from Blue Sky Fibers. It looks nothing like the sample in the Blue Sky poster, which shows (a) what a clever knitter she is and (b) how versatile this pattern can be.

Violet Waffles from Halldora J is a pattern Catherine introduced last year that quickly became a shop favorite. Brigid used Malabrigo Rios in the Aniversario colorway for her Waffles hat. Isn’t it fun to see the before/after of skein and FO?

Below, Lori Versaci’s Origami Top Hat*, one of two Brigid knit. This one’s looking pretty sophisticated in madelinetosh Tosh Vintage.

Her second Origami, this one a bit more playful, was knit in the Arco Iris colorway of Malabrigo Rios worsted.

Have I mentioned how popular the Origami hat is? Here is Bonnie’s, also knit in Rios. She chose the Diana colorway.

Not all of Bonnie’s FOs could make it back to the shop. Some had already been “gifted’ away. In December, we loved watching her make one Pablo the Serious Cat after another, and they clearly went to a loving home.

Stephanie happened to finish her Retrospective* from Laura Aylor on December 24th but not because it needed to be wrapped up and given away. This one’s a keeper in madelinetosh Tosh DK.

Sharon made her heavenly Honey Cowl in one of our new variegated shades of Manos del Uruguay Maxima. Design by Antonia Shankland.

 

It looks sooooo cozy.

Speaking of cozy, Joanne’s 2×2 from Tin Can Knits looks all that in bright red Malabrigo Chunky. She picked some perfect buttons, too.

(Here’s an idea: knit this easy cabled cowl with two strands of Manos Maxima held together for twice the toasty warmth.)

Jamie created this incredible Sakura dress from designer Sargantana Formenterenca with Ewe So Sporty from Ewe Ewe Yarns. It’s a welcome reminder that Spring will come… eventually!

 

Looks like there might be some stranded knitting, some intarsia, maybe even some duplicate stitch? One thing’s for sure, this is going to one very lucky little lady.

 

We were treated to another hint of spring, Gina’s buzzy bee Wonderful Wallaby, a Carol A. Anderson pattern. This one is too cute! Her yarn was Woolstok and Berroco Vintage.

Finally, meet Helen, meet Meg* from Kelly van Niekerk. I made this little hat for the newest redhead in the family, my niece’s son. I used some Classic Elite Liberty Wool from the back of my stash. He should get a few winters’ wear out of it!

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