Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for May, 2010

Knit Happy Products

We recently brought in some really fun knitting accessories from Knit Happy. Shown above is the wonderful Sto ‘n Go Project Box, a collapsable 24X11X16″ sturdy box. What we love best about it is the two-way zippered top so you can keep working on your project while keeping the yarn secure inside and away from curious hands and paws. It also has a handy magazine pocket for storing your pattern. There is a bungee cord on it to hold it collapsed for storage as well. Now that we have them around we’re finding tons of uses for it beside storing our projects. I keep one in the car to collect all the kid’s stuff in so it is easy to round up and bring back into the house!

Knit Happy Products

Another Knit Happy item we are excited about is the Fold ‘n Go Notions Box. There are four, clear triangular compartments inside that are perfect for storing your DPN collection and other smaller knitting notions. It rolls up into a compact 4X8.5X4.5″ package with two magnetic closures. In addition to storing knitting tools we are thinking it would be handy for keeping cosmetics and other beauty aids organized for travel or even keeping small toys for younger children while on road trips.

Knit Happy Products

We also have some fun economical gifts for your knitting friends — Idea Notebooks (show above, available in 4 fun colors) and Sticky-note Organizer (shown below). Keeping a notebook and pen handy is great for keeping track of your knitting or noting down e-mail addresses and phone numbers of new knitters you meet. I use sticky notes all the time to keep track of my place in charts and patterns or to marker patterns that interest me and I love to color code those flags so it is easy to find what I’m looking for. Having a selection of sizes and colors of sticky-notes at the ready is going to be a real time saver! No more scrounging around to find where I last left them!

Knit Happy Products

We are really enjoying the fun colors and having such a nice reminder to stay positive around and are sure you will enjoy these products too.

Read Full Post »

Dye Lot Yarn's Stimulus Package

For a limited time we are hosting a trunk show form Dyelot Yarn of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Included in the trunk show is their unique Stimulus Package yarn (on Ravelry) which is actually 6 yarns in one, but each one is its own hank so you control where the yarn changes while you are knitting! That way you have artistic control, but also are promised that these unique handdyed yarns will all coordinate and work together to create a pleasing finished product.

Dye Lot Yarns Stimulus PackageDye Lot Yarns Stimulus Package

The six yarns together equal about 670 yds. Included in Stimulous Package are the following yarns:

  • Twisted: 100% Merino (103yd/2oz/57g)
  • Circulo: 78% Mohair, 13% Wool, 9% Nylon (94yd/2oz/57g)
  • Harry: 76% Mohair, 13% Wool, 11% Nylon (130yd/2oz/57g)
  • Deborah: 50% Silk, 50% Superfine Merino (106yd/1oz/48g)
  • Alpaca: 100% Superfine Alpaca (129yd/2oz/57g)
  • Merino: 100% Superwash Merino (108yd/2oz/57g)

dyelotwtmk

In addition to the selection of Stimulus Package colorways, from tone-on-tone semi-solids to vivid and high contrast colors, we also have patterns to go along with the yarn if you do not have a project in mind. We even have a couple samples of the patterns on display for you to see in person.

Dye Lot Yarns Stimulus Package Dye Lot Yarns Stimulus Package

Also stop in to check out their lovely colors on the BAM! sock yarn (you can see a peek of it in the lower left of the vest photo above). Two skeins will make an average adult sized pair of socks.

The Dyelot yarns are part of a trunk show and will only be here for a week or two longer so stop in soon for the greatest selection and to ensure you don’t miss out on this special event!

Read Full Post »

Simple Shrug Needing Name

It seems this year spring did not decide to skip us. We’ve had some really cool and even gray days this time around. But, before you know it we’ll be finding ourselves getting chilled in over air conditioned restaurants, theaters and shops in no time. Last summer, under the instructions of a wholistic bodywork practitioner I was instructed to carry a lightweight scarf with me at all times. She was convinced a lot of my upper back/shoulder/neck pain was actually caused by cool draft on my neck and upper back. I thought she was nuts. At the time my hair was quite long and covered my neck. I decided to give it a fair go and was pleasantly surprised to find that keeping my neck covered in air conditioned environments even if I did not feel chilled really started to show some improvement in my trouble areas.

Simple Shrug Needing NameLast summer I went the route of store bought scarves. It was the quickest solution. Over the winter I’ve increased my store bought scarf wardrobe a bit. But it kept bugging me that as a knitter I was buying all these scarves. This shrug came about because I wanted something versatile to wear, lightweight to carry with me, and easy to tuck into my bag so it is at hand. While the shrug when worn as a shrug does not provide a lot of neck coverage, it does add some extra warmth to the upper arms and upper back – surprisingly more coverage that you think it will when you are knitting it. As a bonus, if it is your neck that really needs the coverage, you can easily wear it around your neck as a tube scarf due to its simple construction – especially the larger sizes that are a bit longer from cuff-to-cuff.

Simple Shrug Needing NameCirrus uses a small repeat, easily memorized and non-directional lace pattern to keep the knitting straight forward and easy to knit. Choose your size based on your upper arm circumference (1″ of positive ease is recommended), then you can follow the given instructions to customize the back width as directed. The options for customizing the shrug are nearly endless – make longer or fuller sleeves! You could even substitute in a different lace pattern if you are adventurous.

The pattern is available in this month’s Stitches Newsletter (PDF). The model shown here is the smallest, sized for a 14″ across back width and 11″ upper arm circumference. It is knit in the wonderfully gorgeous Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn in the Nostalgia colorway. The two smallest sizes can be knit from a single 4 oz skein of fingering weight yarn.

Now, which yarn and color do I want to use for my own shrug? Hmmm…

Read Full Post »

Donna DruchunasNew York City born Donna Druchunas lives in the region with her husband, mother and three cats. As a child she learned many crafts from the women in her life including knitting, crochet, rug-hooking, embroidery, and sewing. Like many she took a break from crafting, hers lasting 25 years.

Cover image of Arctic Lace by Donna DruchunasFor 20 years she worked as a writer, designer and creative servies manager in a variety of industries from large industry to small business and even military training facilities. These jobs strengthened her skills in technical writing and creative services. Eventually she broke away from corporate culture and combined her interest in knitting with her skill in writing easy-to-follow instructions. Her designs and features have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and the pattern lines of a variety of yarn companies. She has also authored six knitting books, including the award winning Arctic Lace.

Cover image of Successful Lace Knitting by Donna DruchunasDonna’s latest book, Successful Lace Knitting: Celebrating the Work of Dorothy Reade, will be released on May 10th. The book contains more than 25 knitting patterns from many top designers, each pattern using lace stitches designed by Dorthy Reade. This book is more than a pattern book though. It is also a biography of Dorthy Reade who is considered by many the mother of modern lace knitting. There is also a section designed to take the mystery out of reading charts and knitting lace.

We are excited to welcome Donna to the shop on May 8th from 10am – 4pm for her Lace 1-2-3 workshop where she will take you through the ins and outs of knitting lace, including reading charts. The workshop is $65 + supplies. Please bring your own lunch. Space is limited so call or stop in soon to sign up!

You can connect with Donna in any of the following locations:

Her Six Knitting Books

  • The Knitted Rug
  • Acrtic Lace
  • Ethnic Knitting Discovery
  • Kitty Knits
  • Ethnic Knitting Exploration
  • Successful Lace Knitting

Read Full Post »