close knit: the neighborhood yarn shop


Friday, March 29, 2019

Streets of LA

Hello sweet bag! We don't have nearly enough crochet samples in the shop, so I was happy to see this beauty.
The Streets of LA bag uses three colors of The Fibre Co. Cumbria and some basic sewing skills to create this lovely structured purse. I love the graphic pop of the sample, and I think it would be really pretty in some more muted shades, too. Maybe a range of neutrals or three shades of the same color? There are so many options!

If you want to give crochet a go but are feeling a little uneasy, keep your eyes on the blog for our next round of crochet workshops. I'll let you know as soon as the next class is available for sign ups!

Wednesday, March 27, 2019

Interpretations


The newest book from Joji and Veera is in the shop! Interpretations No. 6 is full of gorgeous designs. Stop in the shop to take a peek at all of the beautiful things. I don't think this book will last long!














Loving that boxy pullover, Understated; the garter stitch and lace wrap, Frozen Fields; and this cozy cardigan, Saltwater. Anything catching your eye?

Monday, March 25, 2019

Eye Candy

Hello pretty Craggy Tweed! Thanks for sticking around after the Yarn Crawl.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Bouquet Sweater

Pic borrowed from Rav pattern page.
Have you all seen the Bouquet Sweater from Junko Okamoto? It uses some really unusual colorwork to create a brocade-like fabric. I would not have thought that a marled yarn and this kind of colorwork would play nicely together, but look at this gorgeous detail!
Pic borrowed from Rav pattern page.

I think the newest Retrosaria Brusca would be perfect for this, and I even chose a few color combos for you. I think any of these rust to orange ones would be amazing.
And these three are pretty great, too. That pink is stunning in real life...rich and tweedy and textured. You should pop in to see it.
This sweater seems to be all over Ravelry. Are you thinking about a Bouquet, too? I would definitely take a look at Ravelry for some inspiration. The sweater looks so different depending on the yarns and colors you choose. What a fun project!

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Crazy Colors from Knitted Wit

The newest batch of Sock (formerly Victory Sock) from Knitted Wit is pretty fun! I love working with this yarn. The knitted fabric is beefy and durable, and the colors are always vibrant.

I have not been able to find any samples of how this all knits up. If you have made something with these new colorways, let us know what happens!

Monday, March 18, 2019

Eye Candy

Cute and super soft tees in the shop from our local friends at Nerd Bird Makery!

Friday, March 15, 2019

Squish Worsted


Would you please all take a moment to admire the crazy cool colors of the Farmer's Daughter Squish Worsted?




These skeins are 281 yards of some of the wackiest colors I have seen on yarn in awhile. And all super soft and machine washable, too.





I am now 100% sure I need a new hat or a wrap or something that will give me an excuse to take one of these home with me...especially that black and white one.

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Retrosaria Beiroa

 
The Retrosaria Yarn keeps arriving in huge, shrink-wrapped bundles from Portugal, and we are so excited every time! The latest batch brought us this gorgeous Beiroa.
This is a light worsted weight, single-ply wool in the most stunning subtle-grey rainbow. The dark grey streaks add so much depth to this yarn, and I LOVE what they do to the base colors, especially the neon green and the red.



This yarn reminds me a bit of a yarn we used to carry form Manos del Uruguay, and I love the Destroyed Cowl I made using that yarn. 

I poked around a bit and found the Bétula shawl, written for this yarn and absolutely perfect for showing off those dark grey streaks. Bétula means birch in Portuguese, and the finished knit really does look like birch bark.
Pic borrowed from Rav pattern page.
The pattern calls for four skeins which makes a very ample shawl, but I'm noticing that many Ravelers have used three and still made a perfect thing. There is some cool short-row shaping that adds a little length to make it stay put when you wear it.

Every package we receive from Portugal has been such an inspiring treat. I can't wait to see what's in the next one!

Monday, March 11, 2019

Eye Candy

If you want them, come and claim them! We won't be able to get any more of these issues of the lovely Laine Magazines after these are gone.

Thursday, March 7, 2019

RCYC

The Rose City Yarn Crawl starts today! We have so much happening at the shop. Here's a breakdown of the lovely guests will have over the next several days.

Thursday: 
Emily Delvin trunk show
Nerd Bird Makery in the shop

Friday:
Earl Grey Fibers in the shop
Lisa Carney-Fenton trunk show

Saturday:
Farmer's Daughter Fibers trunk show
Lisa Carney-Fenton trunk show

Sunday:
Knitted Wit in the shop
Shannon Squires Designs trunk show
 
It's really fun to meet the fabulous people who dye all of this yarn that we love so much. Stop by and see all the goodies they will be bringing and chat them up about their gorgeous yarn!

We are also excited to have trunk shows from Harrisville Designs, The Fibre Co., as well as the Eco Cashmere trunk show from Blue Sky Fibers. It's a real treat to try on the garments and see how you like them before you committ to a knit.

The yarn crawl is such a fun event! There will be a raffle for huge prize baskets, door prizes, yarn discounts, free pattern codes, and lots and lots of fibery fun. We can't wait to see you all. Safe crawling!

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

No Open Knit Tonight!

Hey y'all, we are swamped with Rose City Yarn Crawl preparations this evening, so no Open Knit Night tonight. We will be closing up at 6 today, March 6. Come see us for the crawl starting tomorrow!

Two-at-a-Time, You Say?

Have you heard of SSS? Second sock syndrome? You choose a skein of lovely yarn, cast on, knit away on that beautiful sock until it's finished, cast off, and immediately lose motivation to make another one.
It happens. And Emily wants to cure you. Join her on Monday evenings starting March 11 to learn how to knit two socks at once. Her Two-at-a-Time Sock class will be 4:30-6:30 on Monday evenings in March, and by the time you are finished you should have enough socks to warm two feet.

Monday, March 4, 2019

Eye Candy

The Rose City Yarn Crawl starts on Thursday, y'all! Shops all over town will have trunk shows, special guests, door prizes, free patterns, discounts on yarn...oh wow it's all so much. A few lucky folks will win huge prizes baskets again this year. Maybe it will be you!
I am loving the tote bag this year. If you pre-ordered one, you'll pick it up on the first day of the crawl at the shop you requested. This is a nice bag, friends. Sturdy and thick and so stinking cute. There should be some left at each shop for purchase, but I don't think they are going to last long. There's even a spot for all the little shop pins you can collect during the crawl.
Did you know that Sally's super-talented daughter Emma designed the tote and the enamel pin this year? Such a creative family. I'll keep you posted about who and what we will have at the shop during the crawl. Prepare yourselves for a fibery weekend!

Friday, March 1, 2019

Yellow Sweater

I've been working on this sweater for (checks Ravelry...) almost two years. It's a bright yellow Flaum from Amirisu, and I think it's going to be amazing. It's hard to try it on because the hemline is so much longer than my needle, but I think I'm almost done. 
So far, it's gobbled up six (mismatched) skeins of Cascade 220 in all of that squishy fisherman's rib, and I still have a little bit to go. My question for you is, do I get another skein of yellow and hope that it mostly matches? Or do I finish the ribbing and the tubular bind off with a pretty dark grey from the stash?

Thoughts? I'm leaning toward the grey, but I'm open to ideas.