Knitscene Accessories

I'm always excited to crack open the newest issue of Knitscene Accessories.  This one arrived earlier this summer, and I just realized that I completely forgot to tell you all about it.  So here we go...

This issue if full of great little items to get your knitting groove back as fall approaches.  

The Kirsch Cowl would be a lovely thing to start now and have ready for the fall.  Two skeins of Shibui Cima...so many opportunities to play with color here.  I really like the reversible textured stitches of the Boson Cowl.  Your favorite fingering weight would be just the thing.

The Dressel Shawl is a colorwork commitment, but so pretty.  I would try this in Cascade 220 Sport.

The Sphinx Hat would be great in Rowan Fine Tweed or Harrisville Shetland.

If you like the whole retro forties look, these beauties are just for you: the Townsend Hat, Cassandre Cowl, and the super cool Lady Lindy Headband. 

 

 

There are a few unusual buggy items that I really like.  The Scarab Mitts and the Arachnid Mittens are pretty weird and cool.

What do you all think?  Is it time for fall accessories?  I say it is.

Fresh Plymouth

New yarn in the shop means that fall is on the way, right?  I am all done with these high temps, and I am certainly ready for some wool.  Let's see some new stuff.

We have three colors of the Neon Now sock yarn that I used for my daughter's Angular Cap in the spring.  Such a great yarn, and perfect for a nice bright cap.

We are restocking the DK Merino Superwash, too.  This is a great machine washable yarn.  The colors are rich and saturated, and the knitted fabric is soft and supple.  I love the muted colors down at this end of the shelf.

We also have Homestead on the shelves again.

Homestead is a squishy aran weight wool, great for cozy blankets, sweaters, caps, mittens...so many things.  And it's only $8.75 for almost 200 yards of wooly goodness.  Let's get started on some projects.

Summertime Sale: Angora

I realize that it's not really fuzzy angora season, but we have some lovely choices at the shop, so we are offering 15% off all angora and angora blend yarns this week.

The Noro Shiraito is 45% angora, and just one skein makes this shop favorite, the Soft Waves Hat.  We have made this up in almost every colorway, and they are all good.

This little sample has been hanging around the shop to show off the Schulana Angora Print and Rowan Angora Haze.  It's just some K1P1 ribbing, but it sure is nice in these colors.

This beautiful lace top from the Rowan Angora Haze book makes me appreciate the delicate beauty of the yarn and color.  Totally not my style, but I still think it's breathtaking.

I always forget about these sweet little poofs of angora from Plymouth.  They are just 50 yards, but perfect for little accents or pompoms.

It's not so blazing hot right now, so maybe August is angora season?

Fall Interweave Knits

The newest Interweave Knits arrived at the shop this week.  Let's see what they have to offer.

The stunning Ropemaker Pullover really stood out to me.  Cables, pockets, gorgeous neckline?  Yup to all of that.  This would be so classic in a heathery shade of Cascade 220 Sport, don't you think?

If you like the look of brioche stitch, but not actually doing brioche stitch, take a look at the Zipper Cowl.  It's a fisherman's rib, believe it or not.  The magazine has a really thorough article describing the two techniques and the differences between them.  This was designed using Blue Sky Alpacas Worsted Hand Dyes, which is a thick, ropy yarn.  We have a bit in stock, but I would absolutely use Shibui Merino Alpaca for this one.  Imagine it in charcoal grey with the neon orange contrast.  Nice.

I thought the Meadow Tunic was just lovely.  Maybe in Ultra Alpaca or Rowan Lima...something with alpaca for sure.

The Whitewood Beret and Mitts made me think of our own Melissa right away.  Any chance she will knit up a sample?  I would suggest Debbie Bliss BFL DK or our new Plymouth DK Merino Superwash.

The Fiddlesticks Cowl would be just lovely in the Harrisville Highland or the Fancy Tiger Heirloom.

Want something a little challenging?  The Climbing Rose Henley in Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool is so pretty and sweet.

What do you all think about the fall designs?  The magazines are rolling in.  Time to start knitting.

Summertime Sale: Fingering Weight

Yup, all fingering weight yarns are on sale this week, starting August 11.  Fingering weights (not to be confused with fingerling potatoes...happens all the time) knit up at about seven stitches per inch on a US1-3.  We have a wall of sock yarn for you to choose from, as well as several other fingering weights around the shop.  Come find your favorite and save 15%!

Plumped Up Bumblebirch

Our Bumblebirch Heartwood got a nice plumping up this week.  Sarah brought us some of our favorite shades of this lovely sock yarn, including my favorite, Caela.  We were hoping for even more colors, but she ran out of yarn!

Little Stuff and Big Stuff (Summertime Sale)

Does it feel like summer is flying by?  These hot days are a little much for me, so I have been knitting small things for small people.  Baby bonnets, to be exact.  They are small enough that they don't need to rest in my lap; they require minimal thought; and they seem to fly off the needles, especially after knitting several.

I have been using the Modern Baby Bonnet pattern from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies.  We have so many lovely bonnet patterns at the shop, books and single patterns, too.  I have particularly enjoyed playing with these colors for a certain newly-arrived matched set of humans, and I have a pure white one going now.  I just keep casting on and knitting another.

But this heat will not last, and then it will be time for the big stuff.  Let's go as big as possible, shall we?  Our weekly sale starting August 4 will be Loopy Mango.  If you have been waiting to get your hands on this, now is the time.

The big skeins are normally $198, so they are only $169 on sale.  One of these huge skeins makes a whole blanket in just a few hours.  Talk about a last minute gift that will make a huge impression. 

The 13 oz little balls will be $67 on sale, and one of these makes the fabulous cowl sample we have in the shop.

We have lots of the the US50 needles in the shop, and Loopy Mango offers their patterns for free on their website.

In just a few short months, I'm sure will be wishing for a little bit of this heat to warm us up.  I suppose I will have to make due with a cozy blanket!