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close knit: the neighborhood yarn shop
Does anyone else have trouble taking their own advice? Always wear sunscreen, don't forget your charger, knit some handy washcloths...
I was wiping up my kitchen counters with a raggedy bit of paper towel last week, when it occurred to me that I could do better. Much better. We talked a bit last week about the new Cotton DK and quick little washcloth pattern, which I will be making soon.
But I already had a nice stash of Blue Sky Fibers Worsted Cotton on hand, and I wanted some garter stitch washcloths like my grandma used to make. So I scribbled down this easy (and free) pattern and grabbed my scraps and a US8. These were so much fun to make! Each one requires about 50g of this cotton, so one skein will get you two washcloths.
We have a really nice smattering of colors in the shop now, and I can promise that this yarn is really lovely to knit. Classic Elite Seedling would be great for these, too, and we have a few shelves of solids and at least one (discontinued) multi.
Seriously, these washcloths are really fun to make, and so nice to use. Take my advice. Don't be like me. Knit some washcloths.
We have the bright and sweet Debbie Bliss Cotton DK in the shop again! This beautiful matte cotton is great for many kinds of projects...blankets, sweaters, baby things, washcloths.
Sally was inspired to cast on a little cloth using the shop favorite grellow, and the finished project is so soft. This sort of thing would make such a lovely house warming present or baby shower gift.
Here is the simple little pattern for this cute cloth.
Using a US6 needle, cast on 34 stitches.
Work 5 rows of stockinette.
Row 6: knit 5, purl 24, knit 5.
Row 7: purl 5, knit 24, purl 5.
Continue with rows 6 and 7 for 35 more rows.
Finish with 5 rows of stockinette and cast off!
Sally reports that there is enough yarn in one ball to add about and inch in width and length, which would be about 4 or 5 additional stitches and about 6 or 7 rows.
Enjoy!
Summertime in Portland...does it get any better? We are settling into a slightly more relaxed pace around the yarn shop, and it seems like our knitters and crocheters are as well. Whether you are sitting on the porch, in the garden, or in the park, we hope you are always working away on little projects. Our summer hours are happening right now, so be sure to plan accordingly before you stop in to see us!
How about another hat?
The gorgeous Bough uses just one skein of Cumbria from The Fibre Co. We have a nice batch of pretty colors, but the grellow is certainly a shop favorite. The pattern is available on Ravelry, but we are happy to help you buy it in the shop. A little cabling, a nice pom pom,a gorgeous yarn...can't go wrong!
The Tahki Cotton Classic has a new look! But the rich and shiny colors are as fabulous as you remember.
The
shelves are well-stocked, so now is the time to get your favorite shades
for summer sweaters, hand towels, baby blankets...whatever sounds fun!
Tomorrow, June 10, is World Wide Knit in Public Day! There are events all around the world for knitters to meet up and knit and show the confused public that we are everywhere. Most groups are open to knitters, crocheters, beginners, stitchers, whatever! We are an inclusive group of fiber enthusiasts. It looks there are many groups creating items to be donated, so that's cool, too!
If you're in Portland, here are a few of the meet-ups you might attend:
Knit in the Pearl
SCRAP PDX Knit in Public
Sellwood Knitting Society Knits in Public
Northwest Wool's WWKiP in Support of the Alzheimer's Association
The Oregonian has a few more listed in Portland, including one at Director Park in the Pearl and one at Fremont Park in Overlook.
Grab your closest project (and maybe a rain coat), and find a meet-up near you!
We have JaggerSpun Zephyr in the shop! This classic lace merino and silk blend has been around for a long time, but I think this is the first time we've carried it. Each 50g skein is over 500 yards of true lace weight, perfect for heirloom lace shawls or featherweight sweaters.
I used a very similar yarn to make a wedding shawl for a dear friend years ago. It wasn't quite fine enough to slide through her wedding ring, but it turned out so beautifully. I am not normally a lace knitter, but that heirloom piece was really wonderful to knit and give.
If lace weight yarns are not your thing, you can also hold this beautiful stuff along with heavier yarns to add a cool marled look. You could also double the yarn (with one or two colors) to achieve a lofty and squishy DK or worsted weight, depending on your needle size. This is such a gorgeous yarn. No wonder it's been a classic for so long!
Look at the improved Schoppel-Wolle Gradient! We re-wound the balls into cakes so you can see the whole color range without having to dig into the ball. This yarn has the signature slightly-felted texture that I love from Schoppel. This is the yarn we used for our Gradient Cowl, a blog freebie from a few years back. Come find your favorite colorway!
Cascade Fixation is freshly back in the shop. This cotton/spandex blend is great for projects where you need a little extra stretch in your yarn. It's a popular choice for baby hats and socks, especially for the tiniest and most sensitive of humans.
I'm thinking this would be great for some little footie socks for the summer, or maybe socks for the wool-sensitive in my life. Or maybe a hand knit swim suit. Just kidding :)
