Blue Sky Alpacas Does It Again

We have new goodies from Blue Sky Alpacas.

This is Metalico, a stunning shimmery alpaca and silk blend.  The contrast of the au natural color palette and the metallic appearance is really something to see.  We have a few new patterns for this yarn, too, including the Etched Rio Wrap and the Girl in the World Sweater.

We also have these sweet little balls of Royal Petites.  Royal is not a new yarn, but they have packaged it up in small 100 yard balls perfect for little projects.  

The little pattern booklets for this yarn are so sweet, too, and they each require just two balls of the Royal Petites.  We have the Countess Mitts, the Windsor Mitts, the Tiny Empress Set, and the Westminster Hat, my personal favorite.

Blue Sky Alpacas always does an amazing job with fiber, color, and design, and these latest offerings are no exception!  

Also, thanks to Lisa for the photos of all these pretty things!

Oldies but Goodies

In addition to all of the new yarns we are seeing this fall, we have lots of old standbys rolling in.  The Debbie Bliss boxes contained a few things that many of you know and love.

Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino is a shop favorite.  It's a machine washable light sport weight...just perfect for delicate children's things, baby blankets, colorwork, and even adult sweaters.  We always have this yarn in stock, and I think it's so inspiring when we have such a full range of colors to choose from.

Sally always picks the best ones, don't you think?

There are more than 23,000 projects on Ravelry using this yarn, so you know it must be pretty good.  I feel like every single Debbie Bliss publication contains at least one design using this yarn.  I suppose that's not quite true, but it sure feels like it.

The pattern books for this yarn are pretty adorable, too.  The original Baby Cashmerino book is very popular, and Baby Cashmerino 2 and 3 fit into the collection quite nicely.  With our latest supply, we received Baby Cashmerino 4.  Also adorable.  Take a look at a few (images blatantly borrowed from debbieblissonline.com).

I like the color palette in this book, and the designs look like things kids would want to wear.  That yellow duffel coat up top, in particular, really gets me.

Our supply of Andes was also infused with new life last week.

This yarn is quite luxurious.  The combination of alpaca and silk make it flowy and shiny and soft.  The pattern books contain some gorgeous sweaters, and I love it for scarves and wraps, too.  Anything that allows for snuggling.

 

One of our sample knitters made the Lava Flow Cowl (Ravelry freebie) using three skeins of Andes.  This yarn is gorgeous in cables, and the sample really shows off the best characteristics of the Andes.

 

We also have a beautiful sample sweater in the most stunning red shade.  This is the Ribbed Cardi from the original Andes book.

I meant to tell you last time that we also received the newest Rowan big book, number 52, and two Kim Hargreaves books, Cherished and Scarlet.  These all go quickly, so give us a ring or come on down if you had your heart set on any of these books.

A few points of business:
We will be closed on Monday, September 3 in observance of Labor Day.
There are fresh class dates on the schedule, and more new options to come soon.

Next time...new yarns from Debbie Bliss, a very unusual sample sweater, and a knitted honey badger.  Stay tuned.

Kidsilk Haze Trio

I told you more yarn was on the way, and so much arrived this past week that I have had difficulty deciding where to start.  We received very large shipments from Rowan, Debbie Bliss, and Noro, with more trickling in every day.  There are old favorites and some lovely new things that we are quite excited about.

Let's start with the Rowan box.  First up, Kidsilk Haze Trio.

This is three strands of the beloved Kidsilk Haze spun together to create an Aran weight yarn with all of your favorite Kidsilk Haze characteristics.  It is lofty and silky with a beautiful halo, but it knits up at 4-5 stitches per inch on a US9.  I love the color combinations that Rowan put together for these to create a marled, heathery look.

Since this is a new yarn, it hasn't been used in too many projects yet.  However, the pattern book is really pretty.  Lots of drapey flowy tops with unusual sleeves.

Shall I show you a few?  Curio is pretty, with its deep ribbing and nice boatneck. 

This is Wonder...love the cowl neck, and are those dolman sleeves?

Nomad appears to be a wearable blanket.  I have knitted things like this before, and they are so so comfy.

Awe is a cute little shrug with some cool textured sleeves.  Interesting.

Caravan looks like the kind of cardigan that I would live in.

Check out the dramatic Gypsy. 

Finally, Hobo, a knitted superhero cape.  Just kidding...I actually love those crazy sleeves.

Sally is working on a little something with this, too.  There is so much more on the shelves, so I will keep you updated as we continue to wade through the boxes.  Stay tuned!

Maxima

Our friends at Manos del Uruguay have sent us a little love in the form of soft and squishy variegated single-ply yarn.

The Manos Maxima is very similar to Malabrigo Worsted in terms of texture and yardage, but we are a little more partial to the Manos colorways.  The shades in each skein seem to blend a little more naturally, and the overall effect is so lovely.  We only have the variegated colorways right now, but we might be seeing some solids soon.

Manos del Uruguay is a cooperative that was founded in 1968 to "develop economic opportunities for women in a country where there were, and are still, few opportunities for work."  The small co-op has grown into a successful and thriving business, employing 350 artisans in 17 communities throughout Uruguay.  They are able to provide health benefits, retirement options, education, and childcare for the artisans.  Each skein of Manos del Uruguay yarn is signed by the person who dyed it.

The ample yardage (218 yards/skein) means that one of these will get you at least one hat, and two skeins will make a generous scarf or wrap.  It is a heavy worsted, knitting up at 4.5-5 stitches/inch on a US7 or 8.  It is so squishy and lofty, that I would definitely go with an 8 or larger unless you are aiming for a very dense fabric.

Fairmount Fibers distributes Manos yarns in the US, and they have pages of free patterns for all of their yarns.  The Maxima page contains some real gems, including the Paper Bag Hat (knit sideways with short rows!), the Handful of Berries Mittens, and the Botany Kerchief.

Manos has recently upped their game with some fresh new designers and new styling.  Recent print ads have been stunning, and I am thrilled to see Julie Hoover designing for them.  Check out Beaubourg, a big ol' reverse stockinette pullover that I would live in, given half the chance.

Photo from Fairmount Fibers

Also, Palette, which is designed in Wool Clasica, but would be equally lovely (and much softer) in Maxima.

Photo from Fairmount Fibers

Finally, Fumior, which are just fabulous.  I love the use of textured stitches and reverse stockinette in all of these designs, which seems to reduce the amount of pilling you get with single-ply yarn.

Photo from Fairmount Fibers

The Maxima is only the beginning of the fall yarns we will be seeing in the weeks to come.  What a great way to get started!

Thursday

Sooooooo, we will be closed on Thursday for a bit.  There's this show that will be filming in our humble little shop...perhaps you've heard of it?  It's called Portlandia.

Photo from IFC

They are planning to take over the shop until about 3:00, but it might be a good idea to call ahead if you're coming in to make sure we are open.  Don't fret, we won't let them put a bird on anything.

Still Hot? Make Socks

As the temps creep up again, so many of us are off to the coast, the mountains, the pool, or just any shady spot we can find.  I know it feels too hot to knit, but there are plenty of little projects that can still satisfy your twitchy fingers in these few precious months of summer.  My suggestion?  Socks.

I am not really a sock knitter.  I don't crank out a pair each month.  I don't love to play around with lace, cables, or crazy Cat Bordhi construction techniques.  My stash only includes a half-dozen or so skeins of pretty sock yarn.  (This is ridiculous to a die-hard sock knitter.)  However, when my toes get cold in November, I sure wish I had spent more of my summer knitting energy on socks.

There are so very many ways to take yarn and needles and make socks: double-pointed needles, magic loop, using two circular needles, even doing two socks at a time!  I am a fan of double-points, but a friend of mine is trying two socks at once on one circular needle.  Mind blowing, and more than a little inspiring.

Photo from Laura.  Thank you!

When I do knit socks, there are a few key things that I like to do.  First, I usually knit toe-up.  My people have large feet, and I'd rather run out of yarn on the cuff than the toe, although I have been know to use a contrasting color for toes and heels in a pinch.

I also lovelovelove the tubular cast on or bind off on the cuff.  I like a nice 1x1 rib at the top of my socks, and it looks so clean and finished.  The added flexibility is also key for me, and it's worth every little bit of extra effort.

Finally, the short row toes and heels.  I tried this long ago on a pair of socks for the husband, and I was sold.  The method I use apparently originated with Priscilla Gibson-Roberts, but the photo tutorial from Alison Hansel is what I use for a reference.

So, even though I don't usually knit socks, there are several on my radar this fall.  It's likely that I'll incorporate some of my favorite techniques into these patterns to make them just right. 

Photo from Star Athena

You know I love stripes, and the Laurelhurst socks really caught my eye.  Stripes and a little bit of lace...just right.

Photo from Interweave

Check out the Happy-Go-Lucky Boot Socks.  The polka dot pattern is created with a cool slip stitch pattern that uses just one color per row.

Photo from Laura Chau

I have been planning some Delicious Knee Socks from Laura Chau for a while.  I have the perfect mustard yellow sock yarn waiting patiently.

Photo from Interweave

Ann Budd's Tyrolean Stockings from and old Interweave look so comfy.  Knit up in Aran weight yarn, I might actually get these done before the rain hits.  Time to cast on for at least one pair this week.  I know it's all sandals and flip-flops right now, but my toes will thank me when it's boot weather again.

Silk Scarf

It's been awhile since we had a free pattern, hasn't it?  I put this scarf sample in the shop last week right before the sale, and quite a few lovely knitters really seemed to like it.

The pattern itself is pretty simple...it's basically a knit/purl rib pattern that shifts one stitch to the side on each row.  The scarf is reversible, which I love.  I designed this with Louisa Harding Mulberry Silk, a beautiful pure silk yarn with a very smooth texture.  I used a US7, a few sizes larger than the yarn officially recommends, to create a really satisfying drape.  

If you decide to use a different yarn, be sure to choose something with a smooth texture and ideally with some silk or bamboo.  If you choose a fuzzy yarn, the pattern will just disappear.  The silk is really great for people who might not care for wool, and I think it could even be knit as a dressy piece for the right man.

I hope you all enjoy!

Close Knit Silk Scarf
by Leah Bandstra

Yarn: 3 balls Louisa Harding Mulberry (100% silk)
Needles: US7
Finished Size: 60"x6.5"
Gauge: About 5.5 stitches/in in stockinette
Instructions:
Cast on 49 stitches.  Starting with row 1, follow chart until you have about 2 yards of yarn left.  BO in pattern, weave in ends, and wet block, especially if you have used silk.

Row 1: K1, *P3, K4* until 6 stitches remain, P3, K3.

Row 2: P2, *K4, P3* until 5 stitches remain, K4, P1.

Row 3: K2, *P3, K4* until 5 stitches remain, P3, K2.

Row 4: P1, *K4, P3* until 6 stitches remain, K4, P2.

Row 5: K3, *P3, K4* until 4 stitches remain, P3, K1.

Row 6: *K4, P3*.

Row 7: *K4, P3*.

Row 8: K3, *P3, K4* until 4 stitches remain, P3, K1.

Row 9: P1, *K4, P3* until 6 stitches remain, K4, P3.

Row 10: K2, *P3, K4* until 5 stitches remain, P3, K2.

Row 11: P2, *K4, P3* until 5 stitches remain, K4, P1.

Row 12: K1, *P3, K4* until 6 stitches remain, P3, K3.

Row 13: *P3, K4*.

Row 14: *P3, K4*.

14				X	X	X	X
					X	X	X	13
12	X				X	X	X
	X					X	X	11
10	X	X				X	X
	X	X					X	9
8	X	X	X				X
	X	X	X					7
6	X	X	X	X
		X	X	X				5
4		X	X	X	X
			X	X	X			3
2			X	X	X	X
				X	X	X		1

Odd # rows (right side or RS) are read from right to left. Even # rows (wrong side or WS) are read from left to right.   = knit on RS, purl on WS X = purl on RS, knit on WS