Eye Candy

Have you all seen our collection of adorable enamel pins? This assortment comes to us from Nerd Bird Makery, a fabulous creative business located right here in NE Portland. She is also responsible for these cool bags!

We will be closing up at 5PM today and closed all day tomorrow to celebrate New Year's Day. See you all on Wednesday when we resume our regular schedule. Happy New Year!

Cestari Mt. Vernon Fingering

Do you ever get a yarn stuck in your brain? You see it in the shop and it's not super flashy or crazy, but it's so beautiful that you cannot stop thinking about it? Especially when you accidentally line up three lovely and complementary colors right next to each other for a photo shoot?

Well, this happened with the Cestari Mt.Vernon Fingering in these particular colors. I'm not normally drawn to pink, but with this creamy natural and dreamy dove grey...well I can't stop thinking about what I could make with these. Other than a lovely little stack on a shelf in my bedroom, of course.

There are many other amazing shades of this yarn as well. Look at that red! Holy yarn it's hard to find a good red sometimes.

And check out these springy skeins. So cheerful! The yarn itself has a bit of a springy and bouncy feel to it, and it would be great for textured stitches or cables. Don't you just want to squeeze it?

Each skein is 360 yards of woolen-spun merino wool, grown and processed in the USA and kettled-dyed to these rich and vibrant colors. They leave a little bit of the lanolin in there to make it soft and a little bit water resistant.

Somehow I have talked myself into popping to the shop to take a few of these home with me. What will I make with these beauties? Any suggestions from the blog hive-mind?

Scarves and Washcloths

We have a few really lovely new books in the shop! Scarves, Etc 4 from Quince & Co. is chock full of unusual scarf and cowl and shawl designs.

 

 

Knitting scarves is so gratifying. Nothing has to fit perfectly, gauge can be less than spot-on, you can play with new colors and patterns, and they keep you so cozy and warm!

I'm also loving these washcloth books. We only had a few in stock last time I checked, but I'm hoping Sally orders more copies of each.

We have one full of knitting designs and another full of cool crochet designs. I'm loving the serious ridges on some of those crocheted washcloths. Maybe this is a good time to practice some new crochet stitches.

Both books include some really cute patterns with great textures. We have some really nice cottons in the shop that would be just the thing for a few of these fun and practical little items.

Pattern books can be just the thing to jump start you into a new project. Pop in and take a look! We are open until 6 PM tonight with no Open Knit Night this week. Hope to see you soon.

Happy Holidays!

Wonderful Close Knitters and Crocheters! Thank you for being part of our fiber-loving family. We are open today until 3 and closed tomorrow to celebrate and relax.

We can still help you or a loved one wrap up their holiday shopping today. We have gift cards, project bags, kits, books...all kinds of fun things that any knitter would love. 

We would also love to set you up with a fun project to work on over the holidays. Maybe Emily's new Cabin Fever Blanket? Eight balls of Noro Kureopatora, several movies or a long car ride, and a lot of garter stitch and you'll have an amazing blanket. Sort of the perfect thing for some holiday knitting.

Time for New Hats

I've been giving away my handknit hats to my loved ones. My mom lost one I had made for her years ago, and she mentioned that she likes my Simple Pleasures Hat in the beloved Baby Llama Glow. Now it's hers.

My boyfriend forgot to bring a warm cap on our recent windy beach trip. Lucky for him I brought two (obviously), so now my sweet blue sailor cap in Karabella Margrite Bulky belongs to him.

I had so many hats and I always want to knit more, so this seems like a good solution. Let's look at a few designs that are on my list, shall we?

The Pheasant Plucker looks like fun, and it uses some cool techniques I've never tried. (I am very inspired to try Anna Maltz's marlisle technique, and this seems like a great place to start.)

Pic from Rav pattern page

The Diamondback Hat from AVFKW looks like fun, too. I love all-over colorwork and this one is in DK weight so it wouldn't take forever. Plus it's gorgeous.

Pic from Rav pattern page

Lineate would be so fun in some of the fabulous sock yarns we have at the shop. I think a solid and a crazy variegated would be really cool together.

Pic from Rav pattern page

I made myself a Happpy Thoughts a few years back, and it's been a favorite ever since. The cables and bamboo stitch are such a cozy combo.

I must make more of these Alpine Meadows as well. They work up so quickly and I appreciate the chance to use up bright little scraps for the flowers.

I love making hats! And now I need more of them, so it's time to get knitting.

Hue Loco

Say hello to some beautiful hand-dyed yarn from Colorado! This Hue Loco Merino Sock yarn is soft and vibrant with some ridiculously rich colors. Just look at this indigo. 

 

These pretty skeins are 400 yards of superwash merino...just the thing for pretty much anything. (Maybe the 2019 Rose City Yarn Crawl Mystery KAL and CAL?)

Those speckled ones are definitely catching my eye, especially that pinky purple one. And that orange one. And the yellow one up above. These are dangerous.

Eye Candy

So maybe this isn't exactly eye candy, but this lanolin from Cestari Sheep and Wool Company is pretty amazing stuff. If your hands are feeling dry and cracked, just rub a tiny bit into your skin. You might smell a little bit like a barn for a few minutes, but that's a small price to pay in my opinion!

It's also good for your woolies! I'm going to give it a go in my next round of wool washing to see if I can make some of my most-worn hats a little more waterproof. I think a pinch of this and some of my regular Eucalan wool wash will be just the thing. Has anyone tried this? Let me know if it works!

Uneek

Look at this super cool new sock yarn!

Uneek Fingering from Urth Yarns is one of the most unusual sock yarns I've seen. It's 435 yards of machine washable merino, and the colors are so vibrant. We asked the Side Hustle Socksters to crank out a sock tube for us to see how it works up, and take a look at this!

We thought they had alternated skeins or something crazy, but this is just what the yarn does. Each colorway works up a little differently, but it looks like they all have semi-solid stripes (which slowly change over the course of the yarn) paired with a mutli-colored gradient situation happening in the background.

Their website gives you a good idea of what to expect form each colorway, but I doubt you'll be disappointed. Stop in and choose your favorite!

Eye Candy

New bags from Rebecca Pearcy of Queen Bee! I love these canvas tote bags. They are beefy and gorgeous and will hold a ton of stuff, yarny or otherwise.

Malabrigo Chunky

Let's start this weekend off with some Malabrigo Chunky, shall we? You can stop by the shop today to choose a few of your favorites, then head home and get started. I bet you can finish a hat by Sunday evening. Or a cowl. Or some mittens. Or a scarf. Or an octopus.

Uniform

We have Uniform and Uniform Little in the shop!

These beautiful books feature a sewing pattern for an elegant tunic and a knitting pattern for a cardigan in two weights with so many options. Look at that hem detail!

The sweater pattern includes options for the body, sleeves, hem, and finishing techniques. The tunic can be made with or without sleeves and includes two neckline and body style choices.

After you've made your own uniform, you can make one for a smaller person! Uniform Little has the same tunic and sweater options, so you can fully customize both pieces.

These gorgeous books never last long, so pop in and take a peak!

Eye Candy

Check out these new Silver Bay Scarf kits from Blue Sky Fibers. The kits contain the yarn and pattern that you'll need to make this beautiful scarf.

The elongated stitch pattern looks fancy, but it's very easy to do and makes for some speedy knitting. These kits make lovely gifts for your favorite knitter, or you can send your people in to get one for you!

Swan's Island Sterling Fingering

This Sterling Fingering yarn from Swan's Island is sort of breathtaking. It's 85% merino, which is luxurious and lustrous, and 15% naturally black alpaca, which gives it a smokey look. Take a look at these shades.

The jewel tones all play really nicely together. I love the Zara Hat and Mitts Set, and I think you can make three whole sets with three colors of yarn.

Pic borrowed from Swan's Island website.

Look at the Newbury Scarf. Five colors and so much drapey scarf goodness.

Pic borrowed from Swan's Island website.

I really love the muted color palette and stylish patterns they've developed for this yarn, and the dark undertones are really appealing. I think I might need some of this for a hat sooner than later. Time to chose my favorite color!

Making No. 6 Black and White

I love this magazine! We have had several of these higher-end publications in the shop recently, and I am so thrilled that you all are liking them. Making is one of my favorites. It's filled with gorgeous knitting and sewing patterns and so much inspiration.

These beautiful magazines tend to go pretty quickly! Pop in this week to take a look at this one and all of the other amazing magazines we have out on the table.