close knit

We Heart Urchins

2012-01-25T13:57:00.000-08:00

Check out our new window designed by Jenni and featuring the work of the fabulous Calley Dodero!

Calley has created a flock of urchins and hearts for us.

What's that? You'd like to make your own? Well, do I have some good news for you!

Calley is teaching a class on her Urchin Pillow at the end of February. Many people have commented on the poufs at the shop, and quite a few seem to recall seeing them in design magazines. Calley says she has yet to be featured in any magazines, but maybe this exposure will change that!

If you are a non-crocheter, we have a Learn to Crochet Workshop with Ann on Monday, February 6 to get you started. Ann will teach you all of the basics you need for Calley's class on February 20th and 27th.

Calley's class will focus on the big Urchin Pillow, crocheted with Cascade Lana Grande, but I'm guessing the little urchins are closely related. She'll be able to give you the run down in class. At this point, the pattern is only available to the students in the class, but it's possible that she will release it for purchase at a later date. I'll keep you posted.

We do have the pattern for her sweet little Bullion Hearts at the shop right now. Also worked up in Cascade Lana Grande, they are soft, cute, and fast. We have the pattern for these at the shop and nice range of Valentine's Day Colors of Lana Grande.

If you are a knitter ready to branch out, let Ann and Calley gently lead you into the wild world of crochet. If you already know what you're doing, come create something fabulous. Stop on by or give us a call at the shop to sign up, 503.288.4568. See you soon!

Fresh Batch from Rowan

2012-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

Rowan sent us some pretty things last week.

We have a few cubbies full of the very unusual Rowan Kidsilk Creation. This yarn was a big hit before the holidays, mainly because you can create a scarf in about 20 minutes. I won't call it knitting, and I won't call it crocheting, but I can call it creating. Crazy stuff, people.

Our Lima shelves are full again. Oh my, this is lovely yarn. It was one of the first chained yarns to hit the market several winters ago, and, being Rowan, it is definitely one of the most luxurious. At more than 80% alpaca, it is lofty and soft. And that smokey gray...it is going to go quickly. We have a beautiful sweater sample knit up in this yarn.

Brea is from Rowan's Lima Collection book. It is fabulously soft, dense, and so very warm. I made myself a little Calorimetry with one ball of Lima, and it sees a lot of use. Jennifer Lang, designer of your favorite A Little Ruffle scarf, has used Lima in several of her lovely designs. (Her patterns are available through Ravelry and Etsy, and the photos are used with permission.)

Drifted Pearls

Wandering Cowl

Drifted Pearls and the Wandering Cowl (above) each require three balls, and the Jasper Wrap (below) requires only five. There is a lot of luxury packed into this yarn, making it ideal for gifty items like these.

Jasper Wrap

Felted Tweed DK is one of my favorite yarns from Rowan.

This yarn knits up at a nice light DK or sport gauge, and the knitted fabric is warm but lightweight. I often turn to this yarn for our knitters who want something a little lighter for layering.

Photo from dear sweet Emily

One of my dear friends used it for the Minimalist Cardigan last winter (her first sweater), and she was thrilled with the results. I have visions of using it for this amazing cowl/capelet/thing.

Photo from Lamandorla Designs Ravelry Shop

I discovered the Urban Troubadour at some point last winter and fell instantly in love. (I'll blame the novel I was reading at the time.) I have four balls of orange Felted Tweed waiting at home for me already, so I just need to decide on the other colors. There are so many possible color combinations; I am having difficulty.

Speaking of color combos, have you all seen the Ships & Seaside cowl?

Photo from Tiny Owl Knits

This big loop cowl uses Kid Classic, another favorite from Rowan. We have a nice stock of neutral shades, and plenty of colors to play around with when it comes to the stripes. We normally stock this pattern at the shop, too, so give us a call if you are interested.

Rowan really knows what they are doing over there. Come take a look.

Some Ideas for You

2012-01-17T10:55:00.000-08:00

Sally and I spent a lovely morning unpacking boxes on Friday.

We unpacked loads of yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas and Spud & Chloe. I have lots of ideas for these yarns. Above and below we have a beautiful color range of Sport Weight and Melange from Blue Sky Alpacas. These are essentially the same yarn, but the Melange has a little more depth of color with a subtle heathered look.

Would someone please make the Short Row Sweater from The Purl Bee?

Photo from The Purl Bee

A free pattern, five or six skeins of Sport Weight or Melange, and some serious short row action, and you will have a beautiful and unusual little layer. Look at the back. Wouldn't this be perfect over a long-sleeved tee shirt? Must make.

Photo from The Purl Bee

We also received more Worsted Hand Dyes. This yarn is squishy and ohsosoft. It's a merino/alpaca blend, sure to please even the most sensitive skin. The structure of the yarn is interesting, too. It is very round, so cables and textured stitches really pop. We love it for the Diezel Seedie Ribbie Beanie from Tante Sophie. Just one skein will make a hat for almost any head size.

Photo from Tante Sophie

One of our knitters (Hi, Mary!) was in on Sunday collecting yarn to make another Diezel Beanie, because her first was, uh, commandeered by her sister. She chose a skein of the Worsted Hand Dyes and a complementary skein of Brushed Suri to hold together to soften the look of the hat. I might need to blatantly rip that idea off and make one for myself.

Our Spud & Chloe shelves are full again, too. They've released some new bright colors of Outer for the spring, including Wave (blue) and Giggle (purple). Spud & Chloe has great pattern support for their yarns, and the Buga Baby Bunting continues to stand as my favorite Outer pattern.

Photo from Spud & Chloe

There's a great Double Garter Cowl freebie on their blog, too. Looks pretty easy, and you'll only need two skeins.

Photo from Spud Says!

Finally, the Sweater is back. This yarn is such a great balance of organic cotton and superwash wool. I have had the Twister Cowl on my repeat list since I made one two years back in a different yarn. I need to make one in Sweater next.

Photo from Spud Says!

This stuff is great for sweaters (duh) since it's machine washable. There are grand plans around here to make Shellseeker from Pipibird.

Photo from Pipibird's Ravelry Shop

I have a deep love of stripes, and this looks like it might be the most comfy sweatshirt-replacing handknit ever. It has a pocket. And stripes. Did you see the stripes?

So many ideas, so little time! Please help me satisfy my creative needs and knit some of these great patterns in these fabulous yarns. Thank you.

Malabrigo, Fibre Company, and Liberty Wool

2012-01-10T21:51:00.000-08:00

Some new goodies have arrived at the shop recently. We received a few boxes from Malabrigo with some old favorites and a new beauty.

Malabrigo Arroyo is brand new and so pretty. They call it a sport weight, but the label says 20-22 stitches over 4 inches on a US4 to 6. I think you could knit it up at a range of gauges, so I highly recommend swatching before you get started. Each lovely skein contains 335 pretty yards.

This one is called Glitter and it's my favorite. Arroyo seems like a lighter version of Rios, which we also restocked in this shipment. Plus, Arroyo is machine washable just like Rios. If you guys like it, we will likely get more, so let us know. We also restocked some Malabrigo Worsted and Rasta.

Last, but not least, Malabrigo Sock! This is some addicting yarn.

We have nine or ten pretty colors, and these are my favorites. This yarn is great for socks and shawls, but it gets used often for sweaters, too. Check out all of the cardigans and pullovers on Ravelry.

We also restocked a few yarns from The Fibre Company. We have more Road to China Light and Organik, and we have a pretty little Ishbel knit up for you to enjoy the beauty of Road to China Light.

I know some of you have been waiting for the Classic Elite Liberty Wool, and it's back!

We even have the colorway we used in for our little sample hats, which has been very hard to get in stock.

Come and get yours while we still have it on the shelves. See you soon!

On the Needles

2012-01-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

Hello, yarn loving friends! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season full of knitting, eating, and relaxation. It seems like no matter how low I set the bar for holiday expectations around my house, I still seem to be "needed" much more than I would like by many short (and tall) people. Sadly, the knitting suffers a bit. Now, after many lovely people in my house, too much cleaning, multiple colds, and way too many no-school days, things seem to be returning to a more manageable pace. Time to evaluate what's in the bag and on the needles.

I have been working on a sweater for myself since October, and the end is in sight. Kaari has been on my list ever since Berroco released Norah Gaughan Volume 1 several years ago (still the best volume in my opinion).

After much internal debate on yarn and color, I decided on Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse in Brick. I love the A-line shape of the sweater and the big smock pockets. I just have to finish seaming and crank out the neckband. I hope to be wearing it by next week. I'm a bit concerned that it's going to be a little tight under the arms, but hopefully a good blocking will relax it a bit. This yarn is so soft and wonderful, and I only needed 5 skeins for the sweater.

I have been working on felted Elf Shoes for my big girl, and she is getting impatient. I'm using Manos Wool Clasica for the main body of the slipper, and a little Cascade 220 for the sweet little trim. These things go so fast, especially in the kid's sizes; I really have no excuse for these taking so long. I blame the fat double-pointed needles for slowing me down. The pattern is free and very satisfying. Even though elf season is closed, I think my girl will still love them.

Because she is cold when we play outside, I started a sweater for her, too. The littlest girl gets all the good handmade hand-me-downs, but the big girl is sporting a ratty hoodie passed down from our neighbor. I had three skeins of beautiful purpley blue Dream in Color Classy laying around, so I started Rubble from Alison Brookbanks of 6.5 Stitches. I like the swingy quality of the design, perfect for a girl who gets hot and itchy in clingy sweaters. I plan to block the bejezus out of all of the ribbing to keep it loose and relaxed. It's going pretty fast, so hopefully I can show you some modeled shots soon.

I have a few other sweaters for myself on the needles, too. Apparently I am a selfish knitter.

I started a cardigan last spring, and I put it down over the summer when it got too hot to have a big wad of sweater on my lap. I'm not sure why I didn't pick it up again in the fall. I guess I was seduced by new projects, but I do love my V-Yoke Cardigan from Interweave Knits Spring 2011 by Amy Christoffers. I chose to stripe the lower portion, because I really like how the stripes show off the unusual construction of this sweater. I'm making mine in sport weight wool (maybe that's why I stalled out), although the original was designed with Classic Elite Firefly, a linen blend. I need to finish the body of the sweater, complete a serious I-cord bind off, and make some sleeves. I'm hoping to have this by February, but please don't hold me to it.

I'm also working on a really unusual pullover from Amy Christoffers (I love her stuff), and it's striped, too, in a way. It's the Division Pullover, knit with fingering weight yarn held both single and double to create a really interesting texture. I'm using some silk/cotton we had in stock years ago, but any fingering or sock weight would be perfect. I screwed up the armhole shaping, so I needed a little break from this project. I'd love to have it ready for spring, which seems pretty reasonable at this point.

I am working on a little headband pattern for you all, too. Hopefully I'll have that in the next week or two, provided I don't get taken down by another holiday or school closure.

Garter Goodness

2011-12-28T16:20:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all of you wonderful Close Knitters who came to us for all of your holiday knitting needs. We appreciate your smiling friendly faces and your business through this knitting season.

We will continue to be open on Mondays from 10-6 because we love to see you! We will be closed on Sunday, New Year's Day, and we are skipping our Wednesday night Open Knit Night tonight. Don't worry, it will be back on January 4.

I have a little free scarf recipe for you all! I'm calling it a recipe rather than a pattern because it's very open to interpretation and variation, and it will work for pretty much any yarn.

At first glance, it looks like your basic garter stitch scarf, but it's more than that. Half of the scarf is worked lengthwise, and then you pick up stitches along one edge and knit until you run out of yarn. I used Rowan Purelife Renew for mine, a yarn produced from recycled fabric, but I think this would look so cool with a self-striping yarn or one with a long color repeat.

My scarf ended up about 60" long and about 6" wide, and I'll explain how to figure it out for any weight yarn.

1. Figure out the gauge of your yarn in stitches per inch (not stitches over 4 inches). Multiply the gauge of your yarn by 30. Don't worry about a gauge swatch or anything. It's a scarf. Cast on that many stitches with a nice long circular needle. Knit back and forth (not in the round) for about 6 inches (or however wide you'd like your final scarf to be).

2. Bind off all but the last stitch. Do this as loosely as humanly possible, or your scarf will be all pinched on one side. I like to use the Decrease (or Lace) Bind Off, as described here. When you get to the last stitch, don't bind it off, but pick up one stitch for each garter ridge along the end of the scarf.

3. Knit until your scarf it as long as you'd like or until you run out of yarn. Bind off loosely.

I would love to try this with something that gives an ombre effect like Debbie Bliss Glen, Kauni Effectyarn, or Classic Elite Liberty Wool. A variegated yarn would add a cool touch, too. I used 3 balls of the Rowan Renew (about 250 yards), which knit up at 3.5 stitches per inch on a US10.5. I'm not promising that my yardages below are perfect, but they are just to give you an idea.

Fingering: 7 sts/inch, about 550 yards, cast on 210 stitches.

Sport: 6 sts/inch, about 500 yards, cast on 180 stitches.

DK: 5.5 sts/inch, about 450 yards, cast on 165 stitches.

Worsted: 5 sts/inch, about 350 yards, cast on 150 stitches.

Aran: 4.5 sts/inch, about 300 yards, cast on 135 stitches.

Bulky: 3.5 sts/inch, about 250 yards, cast on 105 stitches.

Let me know if you have any questions. Cast on for this easy scarf and knit away on New Year's Day. Happy New Year!

P.S. Want to Ravel it? Here you go!

Tosh for the Holidays

2011-12-23T22:24:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Our much-anticipated shipment of Madelinetosh arrived this week, just in time for you to treat yourself. We have a healthy supply of Tosh Merino Light (above), plenty of Tosh Merino DK, and little bit of Tosh Merino and Tosh Vintage.

Ann used the Tosh Merino Light to make Stephen West's Daybreak Shawl. I know that several of our knitters have also used it for Veera's Stripe Study Shawl to great effect.

We unpacked a few big boxes today, too. More Cascade Magnum, Lana Grande, Cloud, and Eco Cloud came to join us, as well as more needles and notions. If you're looking for something specific, give us a call.

Chocolate oranges and candy canes are delicious, but wouldn't a few skeins of Tosh be a lovely "surprise" in that stocking you stuffed for yourself? We're open from 10AM until 3PM on Saturday, December 24. Just a thought.

Scrumptious and Holiday Hours

2011-12-19T09:33:00.000-08:00

Fyberspates, a UK yarn company, has recently started distributing some of their beautiful yarns through our friends at Lantern Moon. We are trying out two yarns from their Scrumptious line, Scrumptious Lace and Scrumptious 4ply Sport.

This is some pretty yarn, friends. A silk and merino blend with some amazing yardage: over 1000 yards in each skein of laceweight and about 400 yards in the 4ply sport. The 4ply sport is machine washable, too.

The pattern book, the Scrumptious Collection Volume 1, is really fabulous. I am particularly smitten with the hat on the cover, Arncott, and this beautiful little pullover, Tirrold.

There is a short and long version, and most sizes require only one skein of the lovely laceweight. The book is full of some great sweaters and accessories.

We have some special holiday hours in the next few weeks, too. We'll be closed Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and we will be closing early on the 24th and 31st. We are going to skip Open Knit Night on the 28th, too.

Sally made a pretty little sign with all the details. Don't forget, we are open until 10 PM on Wednesday, December 21st for any knitting emergencies that might arise.

While there isn't really enough time to crank out a Scrumptious lace shawl before Sunday, there is still plenty of time to create some handmade gifts with some of our favorite bulky yarns. We have a lot of Cascade Magnum, Lana Grande, and Twinkle Soft Chunky on the shelves for your last minute knitting needs.

And, if someone you know is looking for a gift for you (their favorite knitter) just send them to the shop and tell them to say Scrumptious.

Fridays are for New Stuff (Wednesdays, Too)

2011-12-14T13:02:00.000-08:00

I love working on Fridays. I used to miss out on all of the big packages when I only worked weekends. Last week was especially good.

The new Rowan Knitting & Crochet Magazine 50 is at the shop. The Rowan site has a great slide show with all of the important details. These are some of the pretties that caught my eye.

Have you guys seen this stuff?

Rowan Kidsilk Creation is a pre-knitted tube of Kidsilk Haze that you can use to make these crazy twisty scarves in about 20 minutes.

Seriously. You can knit or crochet them, and the yarn comes with a pattern. Rowan offers a tutorial on their website, which I highly recommend checking. The process is not really even knitting, but the results are getting a lot of attention. This yarn is a limited edition offering from Rowan, and we have all available colors at the shop right now, so get it while we have it. It might not come back.

New and well-loved books arrived as well. Ysolda Teague's Little Red in the City continues to be a popular choice. The two copies we had left are likely gone by now, but we do keep ordering it. Classic Elite Quick Knits is chock full of some of the best little projects that Classic Elite has offered over the past several years. This would make a great gift, too, for a fellow knitter.

Connie Chang Chinchio's Textured Stitches is hot off the presses. She has designed some very popular sweaters for Interweave Knits, Twist Collective, and a variety of books. Her designs are classic with a little something to keep you engaged. We are also freshly stocked with the ever popular Last Minute Knitted Gifts and More Last Minute Knitted Gifts, if you are so inclined.

Brand new to Close Knit: Cascade Lana Grande. This yarn is similar to Rowan Big Wool for half the price. At two stitches per inch on a US15, I think this is going to be a popular choice for our last minute knitters. Sally used two balls of Lana Grande and a US15 to whip up Nancy's Charly Infinity Scarf.

Also new to us, we have Cascade Kid Seta and Kid Seta Noir. The Noir has little sparkles, which are notoriously difficult to photograph.

These would be great for Nancy's Poppy Flowers. They knit up quickly and work really well as gift toppers or as gifts on their own. We also have a shelf full of Magnum, some new colors of Noro Silk Garden, and these beautiful interchangable Dreamz needle sets from Knitter's Pride. They are really reasonably priced, and they are very nice to work with.

And this week, a whole bunch of Classic Elite Liberty Wool! If you fell in love with the little hats we have at the shop, come and get some while it's here, because the Liberty Wool does not last long. These are the Umbilical Cord Hats from Stitch n' Bitch, and they are adorable. These hats came from the same ball of yarn (yes, one ball = two baby hats), and they are definitely fraternal rather than identical.

Next time I will tell you about something beautiful that starts with "S" and ends with "crumptious". I love Fridays.

New Magazines

2011-12-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us for the Winter Frolic last week! Our little shop was sure hoppin', and we truly appreciate your business.

Now for a little peek at the new books and magazines. First up, Malabrigo Book 3. We are in general agreement at the shop that this is by far the best Malabrigo pattern book yet. The Scalloped Shawl on the cover was enough to get my attention. It calls for three skeins of Malabrigo Silky Merino. We are not carrying this particular yarn, but the Manos del Uruguay Silky Wool is a pretty close substitute, and we have a lovely stock of this yarn.

Sally whipped up a sample of the Rasta Neckwarmer in about two hours. I'm not usually drawn to these super bulky yarns, but Rasta is really satisfying. Stephen West's Purl Ridge Hat, designed with Malabrigo Worsted, looks pretty fabulous. Keep your eyes out for a sample of this one, too.

I'm also loving the Twisted Cowl, the Leaf Border Hooded Jacket, the obligatory Stuffed Ostrich, and these bright and beautiful Floor Pillows.

The newest Knit Simple had a few good ones, including this Knitted Triangle Sampler Afghan.

Interweave Crochet Accessories arrived recently, too. The cover features the big ol' Rapunzel Scarf for you crocheters who want to jump on the chunky bandwagon.

The are several cute kid's accessories, including these cupcake hats and the dino set.

The Fancywork Cloche is so sweet and romantic, as is the pretty Edie Cowl.

Check out the Twist Bag; it's fully lined with crochet for an extra little pop of color.

We also have Interweave Knits Accessories for the knitters.

There is a beautiful section on wedding-appropriate shawls. The Cowry Shell Shawl is my favorite.

The sock/slipper patterns are pretty great, too. The thrummed slipper boots look so toasty.

There is a crazy-good spread of man hats with something for every guy on your list. Mustache not required.

Of course, there are plenty of pretty hats, scarves, cowls and gloves.

Interweave Knits Winter 2011 is here, too. I had to take a copy of this one home with me for two reasons: the Meriwether Wrap Jacket, knit with a respectable amount of worsted weight yarn (maybe Cascade Eco?),

and the Petite Facile sweater knit with just two skeins of Malabrigo Worsted.

These are other good ones, too. Including the Tempest Coat, the Pan Am Jacket, Bettie's Pullover, and Shirley Paden's Fauna Pullover.

Whew, that was a lot of stuff. I hope you found something that inspires you. Come on by the shop and flip through one of these great new publications. We love to see your shining faces.

Thank You, More Classes, and New Stuff

2011-11-30T13:41:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to everyone who supported the Little Boxes program on Back Friday. It is so cool to see a small, grass-roots movement take hold like that. Portlanders really know what's up. Let's hope it was successful enough that we will see a repeat next year. I am making a conscious effort to to maintain the Little Boxes mindset throughout the year, and especially in the next month.

To that end, please join us for the Winter Frolic this coming Friday night! Several Alberta Street businesses are staying open until 8 PM on Friday to give you some extra shopping time. Most of the stores are offering discounts and special treats, so please come on down.

We have added a few classes to the schedule for you, too. Ann is offering her Beginning Socks Class on Monday evenings from 6:30-8:30 PM December 12, 19, and January 2. We have a few people signed up already, so give us a ring or stop by if you are interested. Ann starts you out with a worsted weight yarn for the sake of speed and teaching, but this class will prepare you to make socks at any gauge.

If you are just getting into knitting or want to further you skills and need some help, we have so many options. Adrienne's Beginning and Beyond series is chock full in December, but we have a January series all ready for you. Thursday nights from 6:30-8:30 from January 5th through the 19th.

We also have a Learn to Knit Workshop for those of you with time commitment issues. It's a two-hour workshop that will get you on your way. Tuesday, December 6th or the 13th, also from 6:30-8:30 PM.

If you have crochet on your brain, sign up for the Learn to Crochet Workshop on December 5th. Ann will have you chaining like a pro in two hours or less.

Okay, now for a few shop updates that seem to have fallen through the cracks here on the blog.

We have a fresh batch of Kauni is some lovely colorways. They were kind enough to provide a swatch pack so you know what you are getting.

Sally drew my attention to amazing design. The Silver Spring Pullover is a dolman-sleeve sweater, knit cuff-to-cuff to really take advantage of the long color repeat of the Kauni. Any now I can't stop thinking about knitting a fingering-weight adult-sized pullover. Thanks, Sally.

Our supply of Cascade 128 Superwash is quite ample right now. This yarn is a great choice for blankets, sweaters, hats, scarves, pretty much everything. It's a super soft, machine-washable chunky yarn in great colors. What's not to love?

You also seem to love Cascade Magnum and Sally's Seed Stitch Cowl. We are keeping the Magnum and the US17s in stock to keep you knitting for the holidays.

I was going to talk to you about Classic Elite Liberty Wool, but you bought it up already. More is on the way, so I will gush when it arrives.

We have new magazines, including Jane Austen Knits, Knitscene, Interweave Crochet Accessories, and Interweave Knits. I will give you details next time. For now, here is a photo of our lovely new window.

Stop by and tell Jenni how much you love it. Also, try to spot the sheep. Hope to see you Friday night!

Sunny Friday

2011-11-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

It's a beautiful sunny day in Portland. I hope have all had a chance to take advantage of the lovely weather. Don't forget that Close Knit is participating in Little Boxes today, along with dozens of other local Portland shops. We will be open until 8 PM tonight, so please come by to see us!

We have received lots of new stuff this week. Here's the rundown. From Malabrigo: Rasta, Worsted, and Rios.

The Worsted is the same good stuff you all know and love, but the Rios is new to Close Knit. It's a plied worsted weight, and it is machine washable! Come see it...I think you'll love it.

I used one skein of Rasta (and about two hours of my life) to make the lovely little shawlette, Ovate. She has a larger version using two skeins, as well, and the pattern is available on Ravelry.

We have also loaded up on Cascade Magnum, as you can see above, and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, DK, and Baby Cashmerino.

We also received a few new books from Debbie Bliss: Simply Glen, Time for Tweed, and The Charleston Collection. I'm loving this Two-Tone Sweater from Simply Glen.

They released new Glen colors, as well. Check out that dark bottle green.

We have a few new colors of Twinkle Soft Chunky, including the gorgeous cranberry that many of you nabbed up the first time around.

We loved Cascade Eco Cloud so much that we order the dyed version, too, Cloud. Love that squishy chained texture and those deep colors.

Misti Alpaca Chunky Handpaints are back, too, with some of the best variegated colorways for you.

Last but not least, a whole slew of beautiful bags from Lantern Moon...perfect gift ideas. Drop a few hints at home, and we'll make sure they get you a good one.

Have a great weekend!

Local Fridays

2011-11-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

I want to share a bit about two very cool events coming up in the next few weeks and show you a crazy cool scarf.

First up, we have Little Boxes. I don't know about you, but the big box stores make me a touch homicidal, so I think it is super cool that the Little Box stores in Portland are banding together to encourage you to keep you holiday shopping dollars (not to mention sanity) close to home. Several of you have asked about the flier at the shop, so here's the skinny.

On Friday, November 25 (a.k.a. Black Friday) you can line up outside of T***** at 1:00 AM, or you can sleep off you turkey hangover like a normal person and spend a luxurious day shopping at some of the best places in Portland.

Start your day purchasing something fabulous at any of the shops listed on the Little Boxes participants list, keep your receipt, and enter the raffle. Mosey on over to another Little Box store, and present your receipt from the first Little Box to receive 10% off your purchase. Repeat as many times as you'd like at as many stores as you can. Plus, you can enter the raffle at every single store all day long. There is some good stuff on that raffle list, people. Check out the Little Boxes site for additional details and a great map to help you plan your day.

The following Friday, we are getting even more local. Several shops on Alberta have banded together to offer a little extra shopping time on the evening of Friday, December 2. We're calling it the Winter Frolic, and we welcome you to join us between 6 and 8 PM for sales and merrymaking up and down the street. The following shops are participating: Modern Domestic, Frock, Garnish, Stu Stu Studio, Collage, Red Sail, Tumbleweed, Grasshopper, Digs, Salt & Straw, Close Knit (hey, that's us!), Abrahams & Duffy, and PedX. There really is something for everyone. I recommend that you leave your distractions at home and enjoy a fabulous couple of hours strolling Alberta.

As a side note, I wanted to mention the 3/50 Project, too. It's not really an event, but more a way of thinking when you go out to make purchases, especially as we enter the time of year when it all seems to get a bit out of control. The basic premise of the movement is to choose 3 local brick and mortar shops in your community each month and then spend $50 in each one. They have some pretty amazing statistics on how this kind of behavior would impact local economies.

And this sort of brings me to the Les Miserables scarf. Our fabulous Ann knit this sample up and brought it into the shop with a note about how the style and the name of this design seemed quite appropriate for the global economic climate. Quite so, Ann.

Anyway, I will hop off the soapbox now. We love our customers, and we love being the shop that makes you feel welcome, offers you lots of help and advice, and makes you want to come back again and again. Regardless of anything else, allow us to give back and say thank you to you all. Hope to see you on Friday!

Time Flies

2011-11-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

Oh my. Do your weekends last longer than mine? I feel like these short days make time fly.

We have all kinds of good stuff for you at the shop. The newest Berroco shipment included one of my favorite yarns, Peruvia Quick. So many beautiful colors.

I used this awhile back in my failed vest attempt...it is still waiting for me to find the perfect project and enough time to knit it. About seven million knitters have made Aidez, a free pattern from Cirilia Rose and Berroco. This design strikes a perfect balance by combining relatively intricate cables with a chunky yarn for an impressive result that won't take all winter to knit. Take a look at these amazing examples.

Sally made the Man Hat with 99.99% of one skein of Peruvia Quick. Free pattern, $11 skein of yarn, a few hours of knitting = perfect gift.

Norah Gaughan uses it in her newest Berroco book, Volume 9, for Kaide and Geordie.

Look at those amazing cables pop. There are some other lovelies in Volume 9, as well. I love Parlan in Ultra Alpaca Light. Oh, that mustard yellow.

Aeneas in Peruvia looks like a cabled hug.

We also have the new booklet featuring Flicker, #311. Maila, a sweet little lacey shell, only takes three skeins of Flicker. So cute with a pair of jeans for a casual holiday thing.

The cowl neck on Nurmi is dramatic and flowy, and who doesn't love a cabled cardigan like Siri? There is a great slip-stitch hat, too, and mittens, and a scarf, and more.

The Berroco website has some great freebies using Flicker, too. I am planning to have a freebie for you, very soon, I promise. As soon as figure out where those extra three or four hours of my day have gone.

Look at the Flicka'!

2011-11-09T21:07:00.000-08:00

We have some fresh bling in the shop for you.

The much anticipated Flicker shipment has arrived from Berroco! We loved the earth tones last fall, and the soft palette of colors is beautiful as well. In addition to the natural colors, we currently have yellow, purple, and blue (aka Petipa, Pytor, and Lac, obviously). The rest of our shipment is on the way this week.

If you have never knit with a chained yarn like this, give it a try. The final fabric is soft, lofty, and squishy. Sally has a simple slouchy little hat knit with one skein, and it is light as a feather. Just ask us for the pattern when you come in for your yarn.

We also have some sparkly handmade resin buttons from M.G. Loden. The big guys are perfect for a hat, cowl, or a one or two-button cardigan.

These little guys are a little more subtle, but still nice and sparkly.

We have restocked the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Flamme, too. It's not sparkly, but it sure is shiny and vibrant. The colors are so deep and pretty, and the texture of the yarn is so interesting.

Nancy used this yarn for her Chloe Cowl, which would make a lovely and relatively quick little knit. (There was a problem with the pattern, but it's been corrected as of today. Sorry about that.) A friend of mine is using the gorgeous orange for the cabled capelet on the cover of knit.wear.

It's going to be stunning. She promises to share photos when she's done. I can't wait to see it.

We also have a nice plump supply of circular, straight, and double pointed Dreamz needles from Knitter's Pride. The colors of the wood are really beautiful, and the cable on the circulars seems pretty flexible. We have the circular Nova needles, too, the metal offering from Knitter's Pride.

Not sparkly at all, but still very nice, are the Pretty Cheep Bags from Blue Sky Alpacas. These bags are the prefect size for keeping your projects clean and contained. At just ten bucks, you might need one for each project. These make great gifts, too, even for non-knitters.

We just received a shipment from Cascade, too, including 128 Superwash, Magnum, and 220 Superwash Sport. The unusual and slightly addictive Kauni Effectyarn is back, too. More on this stuff soon...and perhaps a free pattern this weekend. See you soon!

Spud & Chloe, Blue Sky Alpacas, and Madelinetosh

2011-11-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates this week. We have so many new things in the shop, so let's get right to it.

Jenni and I spent a lovely afternoon unpacking boxes from Spud & Chloe. We have a fresh stock some of their best patterns and of all three of their yarns: Outer, Sweater, and Fine.

I snapped these photos of my littlest one several months ago when we had a Spud & Chloe trunk show.

This is the Best Friend Sweater, and the size range covers little ones through teenagers. She gives it her approval. We have this pattern back in stock, and the Buga Baby Bunting, too.

The Blue Sky Alpaca Shelf is also full of fresh Suri Merino, Bulky, and Worsted Hand Dyes.

Look at the pearly goodness of the Suri Merino...perfect for Nancy's stylish Sally Hat and Gloves.

The gorgeous Bulky is always popular for those quick last-minute projects.

The new colors of the Worsted Hand Dyes are beautiful. Sally always chooses the best ones. One skein of this yarn will make you a Deizel Seedie Ribbie Beanie, one of the most popular hats at the shop.

Speaking of the best colors, Madelinetosh has arrived! Check out the new range of Tosh Merino DK, the prettiest single-ply you could ask for. Holy color.

We are trying out the Tosh Sport. Look at those amazing colors and that satisfying 2-ply texture. This is my kind of yarn.

We are waiting patiently for Tosh Merino Light, one of your favorites. I'll let you know when it arrives.

There is more new stuff, so stay tuned and I'll show you more next week. Have a great weekend, friends!

Classes and Coastal Knits

2011-10-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

I promised you all a run-down on Coastal Knits, but I want to remind you about our classes first. We have some great ones starting this week, with so many options depending on what you'd like to learn.

Knitting: Beginning and Beyond starts on Thursday night with Adrienne. Even if you know how to knit, this class might still be for you. Want to learn knitting in the round? Increasing and decreasing? I know many of you are sort of stranded at the garter stitch scarf phase, so take advantage of this opportunity to push your knitting to the next level. Class is Thursday night 6:30-8:30 on November 3, 10, and 17.

Judy's Knitted Toys and Skills Class begins on Tuesday night. Judy will show you how to make any of these adorable guys while honing your knitting skills. There are so many techniques involved in creating little toys like these, and it's nice to learn on a small project. Class is from 6:30-8:30 on November 1, 8, and 15.

Ann has several offerings starting next week, including a Learn to Crochet Workshop on Monday, November 7, her Learn to Knit Workshop on Tuesday, November 8, and her always-popular Beginning Sock Class beginning on Tuesday, November 15. Ann's celebrating her birthday this week, and I know she would love to see your shining faces in her classes next week!

Okay, now for Coastal Knits. This book is a self-published beauty from Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting and Hannah Fettig of Knitbot. These gals live on opposite sides of the country, and their designs draw inspiration from the California and Maine coasts.

The book itself is beautiful, with photographs, project sketches, and line drawings that really play up the beachy coastal feel of the designs, which are also really stunning. Here is a smattering of what you'll find in the book.

Gnarled Oak in Tosh Merino DK (which is on the way to the shop!)

Rocky Coast (my favorite) in Fibre Company Organik

Water's Edge

Panoramic Stole in Fibre Company Canopy Fingering

Pretty short row shaping

Cambrian Cowl, try Misti Alpaca Chunky

Sand and Sea

Judy will also teach a Knit Your First Sweater Class beginning on Monday, November 14. If one of these gorgeous Coastal Knits sweaters strike your fancy, Judy can help you make it happen.

We received a box from Interweave on Friday with a nice pile of Weekend Hats, which you all seemed to love. I love it, too...check out my preview from earlier this month.

We also received the LAST copies of knit.wear that we will be able to get our hands on. This magazine has flown off the shelves (for good reason), and Interweave will not be printing any more. They would only let us order 15 of the last 100 in stock, so come and get yours.

Let me know if there are any other classes that seem interesting to you. We've been discussing a colorwork class, maybe some cables, and perhaps a kid's beginning knitting class. Please leave a comment if you have thoughts or feelings about the classes. Okay, I'll be back soon with more updates!

Sock Yarn, Sparkles, and Love

2011-10-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've been holding out on you guys. I have a crush on a new yarn at the shop, and I can't really bear to see it all go quite yet.

Lana Grossa Lace Lux has got me (more information here). I know at least a few of you have found it, too. I've worked with a slightly heavier version of this yarn in the past, and I love how it turned out. I ended up gifting my Age of Brass and Steam Shawl, and my friend tells me she gets compliments on it all the time.

I am pretty sure a lace weight version would be even more amazing. I have also been thinking pretty hard about just making a whole sweater out of it, but I'm still on the fence. One Raveler used three balls to create a really fabulous Citron Shawl (a freebie from Knitty), and I think the Stripe Study Shawl would be so cool and edgy in this...if a garter stitch shawl can look edgy. What do you think?

I'm normally a rustic sheepy wool kind of gal, but I just can't stop thinking about the Lace Lux. I suggest using a pattern with a little texture (cables, garter ridges, and the like) because the Lace Lux fuzz fills in and creates a nice shadow and depth in the finished product. Each ball is more than 300 yards, and we have five colors right now: the beautiful ruby red and gold above and a gorgeous purple, teal, and icy blue.

We have new sparkles, too. Lana Grossa Alta Moda Sera (more info here) is a chunky chain yarn with some nice sparkle...kind of a heavier version of Berocco Flicker. One ball should be enough for a little beanie, and two would get you a nice scarf.

The sock wall has seen some love, too. Cascade Heritage is one of the best sock yarns for your money, and we have a great selection of the solids and paints.

Kollage's brand new Sock-a-licious has also made itself at home on the sock wall. With 10% silk, it seems like a really nice sock yarn. I like the colors a lot, too. Tonal rather than variegated craziness. I can see wearing the heck out of some pretty gray socks.

Last but not least, our much-loved Cascade 220 Superwash Paints are back. I love these colors for kid sweaters, hat, and mittens, and I know many of you are already using it for baby blankets. This stuff goes fast, so beware.

Okay, so I've come clean about my latest obsession. Please save some yarn for me.

Books and Patterns

2011-10-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

It feels like new books and patterns are arriving everyday around here! We have several familiar favorites and some highly-anticipated new friends as well.

These two baby books are probably my favorite ones on the shelf: Vintage Knits for Modern Babies and Vintage Baby Knits. I recommend these often, and I know our new mama Melissa agrees. If you have a new baby in your life or one on the way, these books needs a spot on your knitting book shelf. They make great gifts, too, for an expectant knitter.

I have been waiting for this pattern to arrive: French Press Slippers from French Press Knits. I love felted slippers for our wet and chilly winters, and I have been rocking my Snugs for several years now. Perhaps it's time for something a little more dainty. We have a bright orange sample in progress, so keep your eyes peeled for those in the next few weeks. Hmmm, a pair of these would be a great gift, too. I find that people who don't really wear handknits still appreciate a good pair of felted slippers.

Like colorwork? Need a great reference book full of so many charts your head will spin? Enter Alice Starmore and her Charts for Color Knitting. You pretty much can't get a better chart dictionary than this one.

I know many of you have been looking for the pattern for the little elf hats we have in the window. It's the Pointy Elf Hat from the fabulous More Last Minute Knitted Gifts, which we finally have back in stock. Also back on the shelves, Vintage Modern Knits, featuring the amazing luxury yarns of The Fibre Company.

Miriam Felton's Furrows Shawl is so classy and interesting. You'll need 475 yards of fingering (sock) or sport weight yarn (400 for the main color and 75 for the edging). Choose something fabulous and you'll want to wear it everyday.

Knit, Swirl! from Sandra McIver is full of patterns for one style of sweater, the giant circle with arms. There is probably a more sophisticated name for this style. There is all kinds of information in here and a lot of math, but the results are pretty striking. I love these two the most.

Shades of Grey

Silhouette in the Sun

Like to make little toys? Susan B. Anderson is one of the best designers for this kind of thing. Spud & Chloe at the Farm is so stinkin' cute. We also just received Itty Bitty Toys, and Judy is teaching a class in November to hone your technical knitting skills.

Check out these cute guys from Itty Bitty Toys and take a look at Judy's class page. The bird flips inside out into an egg, and the frog reverses to a turtle!

On that note, perhaps you need to create something a little weird. Knitwit and Amigurumi Knits are for you.

If squid and 6-legged dolls are not your thing, how about one of the best knitting books ever? Veronik Avery's Knitting 24/7 is full of beauties. Sally loves this book, and we think you will, too. So many classic designs in some beloved yarns.

The highly-anticipated Coastal Knits from Hannah Fettig and Alana Dakos is on the table, too. This book is beautiful. These girls know what they are doing. I promise a preview and yarn suggestions soon.

Finally, a HUGE amount of Berroco arrived yesterday. I saw a ton of Vintage, Comfort, Comfort Chunky, Ultra Alpaca, and Ultra Alpaca Light. There might have been more in there. I know we are expecting Flicker late October or early November. We will be receiving the beautiful natural earth tones as well as the new pale shades, all with the fabulous sparkles.

Book, yarns, and patterns! Oh, my! Come see the new goods that are rolling in every day, and stay tuned here for more updates.

YARN! YARN! YARN!

2011-10-13T20:48:00.000-07:00

A lot of Cascade 220

We have new yarn! Some big boxes of yarn arrived from Cascade, Classic Elite, and several other friendly companies. The shop is feeling very full, with inspiration everywhere you look. If you had a special order on the books, you should have received a call. If you were just waiting to see what arrived, get your self down here!

Cascade Magnum

Some old friends have arrived to get you going on your fall knitting. Magnum is a big single-ply in beautiful heathered shades. We have a few sample sweaters knit up in this, but I prefer it for scarves, cowls, and hats.

Eco and Eco+

Eco and Eco+ are some of the best values in the shop...in any shop, for that matter. One of these big skeins contains 478 yards for just $20. This is a popular choice for blankets and sweaters, and it looks like some of you have already started shopping from the look of the shelf.

A fresh batch of Twinkle Soft Chunky arrived from Classic Elite. This stuff is one of the softest big yarns there is. I love that red and the steely gray. Many if you used it for Sally's Seed Stitch Cowl last winter, and it's also popular for Laura Irwin's Fawn Earflap Hat from Boutique Knits. Just one skein for the hat and two for Sally's cowl.

New from Twinkle, Baby Chunky, a slightly smaller version of Soft Chunky. There seems to be quite a bit of confusion about the actual gauge of this yarn. The Soft Chunky is about 1.5 to 2 stitches/inch on a US17-19, and I've seen Baby Chunky listed at about 2.5 stitches/inch on a US13. Someone check it out and let me know. We have some beautiful earthy colors of this one, too.

Baby Chunky on the shelf

Eco Cloud

New to the shop, Eco Cloud from Cascade. This is another chained yarn, similar to Berroco Flicker and Rowan Lima, so the yarn actually looks a little bit like knitted i-cord. This makes it really bouncy, sproingy, and very light. Eco Cloud is pure alpaca, so it's also soft as a cloud. This is the yarn used in The Purl Bee's Half Log Cabin Ombre Blanket. I was going to make this blanket anyway, and now I have the good stuff on hand.

We received fresh copies of The Shetland Trader and Westknits Book Two. Our beautiful sample of the Shoormal Scarf is back out for you to enjoy. Just three balls of Rowan Cocoon to make this lovely scarf.

Ships & Seaside from Tiny Owls Knits arrived, too. Stephanie Dosen has such a sweet wee woodland sense of style, and I think many of you will really like her stuff. Her gorgeous oversized cowl uses Rowan Kid Classic, a wool and mohair blend that is lofty and cozy. This is a great chance to play around with colors you might not normally choose and see if you surprise yourself.

There is more new stuff, but I don't want to give it all away at once! Come visit us and see what else you can find.

Loving

2011-10-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

I have a few more notable publications to share with you before all of our fall yarn starts rolling in.

The Best of Knitscene is pretty great. It includes several of the most popular designs from Knitscene since they first started up in 2005. I think of Knitscene as the cool little sister of Interweave Knits. Here are some I think you might like.

The Central Park Hoodie is perhaps one of the most popular designs out there, with more than 4000 projects listed on Ravelry. It's knit with Tahki Donegal Tweed, which we have in nice supply. Our colors are a bit more tame and traditionally tweedy, but still fabulous.

The Geodesic Cardigan features some eye-catching pleats up the fronts. It is knit with lace weight, but on size 6 needles, so don't be afraid.

I love the Kenobi Jacket, which was originally designed as a men's sweater jacket. Doesn't it look like you could just live in this? It's knit with Berroco Ultra Alpaca doubled, so the fabric is squishy and cozy.

The Phiaro Scarf is perhaps not for everyone. I love the dropped stitch action, though. It would be a great gift, and a surprisingly quick knit, too.

I have always been partial to the Pinch Hat in Classic Elite Ariosa. I could take or leave the brooch, but I'll take the hat for sure.

Riding to Avalon was another of the all-time favorites from Knitscene. This sweater is begging to be knit with Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool or Rowan Felted Tweed.

I feel like I'm seeing dolman (or batwing) sweaters all over the place. The Berkshire Dolman Sweater includes a cozy turtleneck and nice deep ribbed cuffs, and it's knit with the very economical Cascade Eco Wool, making it even more appealing.

In addition to some of their best patterns, the book contains some very helpful articles on triangular shawls, reading lace charts, and creating and counting cables. There are also some nice profiles on some of the designers that have made Knitscene what it is today, including Kate Gagnon Osbourne, Connie Chang Chinchio, and Cecily Glowik MacDonald.

Clara Parkes has also contributed an article about yarn weights. Maybe that doesn't sound very exciting, but the article is really informative and will give you some valuable insight into yarn choices and substitutions. (Her other books, the The Knitter's Book of Wool and The Knitter's Book of Yarn, are also really interesting.)

Knit.Wear is also hot off the presses. I love this. Love. My copy is already a little dog-eared. The styling is really clean and minimal, which I find very appealing. The designs focus on a few key elements, and the results are really stunning. This is the premier issue, and I really hope there will be more.

Pam Allen has a great piece featuring one basic design at four different gauges. It's cool to see how changing the weight of the yarn and adding a few key elements can really change a sweater.

On the Edge sows how good ol' stockinette stitch can really show off a detail, be it cables or lace.

The fitted jacket is knit with Aslan Trends Del Sur, and the capelet would be fabulous in Berocco Peruvia Quick or Cascade 128 Superwash.

The Reversible Scarf Tank would be lovely in Tahki Cotton Classic, and the red cabled hoodie is knit with Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse 5-Ply, one of my favorite yarns at the shop.

This pretty Basket Yoke Pullover by Wendy Bernard looks comfy and stylish at the same time. It's knit in Berroco Ultra Alpaca, which we are patiently awaiting in the next week or so.

Surprisingly, I like this little ruffle sleeve top. It would be amazing in Cascade Ultra Pima. But longer, always longer for me.

The dramatic Multi-Drape Kimono from Annie Modesitt is made with Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk. So luxurious.

Eunny Jang's Exposed Seam Pullover is not even on the book's Ravelry page yet, but I adore it. Only six balls of Soft Linen? Yes, please.

The photos of Amy Christoffer's bulky Selvedge Cardigan do not do it justice. Check out the bonus photos for more details of the short row shaping on the back hem.

This wacky little Chatoyant Vest features a slightly fulled (felted) collar. The rest of the vest, knit in Lamb's Pride Worsted, is left unfulled. Interesting...

We are eagerly awaiting our big fall orders from Berroco and Cascade. If you have been waiting, please give us a ring later on this week and we can let you know what we have in stock. In the meantime, take a look at some of our great books and magazines and start planning!

Weekend Hats

2011-10-04T13:16:00.000-07:00

Everdeen Beanie in Malabrigo Silky Merino

Weekend Hats arrived at the shop recently, and I am really impressed. The book was compiled by Cecily Glowick MacDonald and Melissa LaBarre, who are also responsible for New England Knits and so many other fabulous designs.

The book includes hats from more than 20 designers, and I feel like I would make and wear almost every one. Even better, we have almost all of the yarns used in the book, so you don't even have to futz around with yarn substitutions! I know you want to see what's in there, right? Here you go.

Plait Beanie with Classic Elite Ariosa

Wanderer Cap, maybe in Kathmandu Aran or Portland Tweed

Flyer Cap with one skein of Lamb's Pride Worsted

Chroma Cap in Berroco Ultra Alpaca

Topiary Beanie, maybe with the new Shalimar Breathless

Hued Toque in Rowan Felted Tweed

Union Long Beanie in almost any DK yarn

Trellis Hat in Fibre Company Canopy Fingering

Lea Cloche, maybe with Debbie Bliss Luxury Tweed or Tahki Donegal Tweed

Ogee Beanie in Cascade Venezia Worsted

Pebbled Beanie in your favorite sock yarn

Welted Toque in St. Denis Nordique

Brier Toque, maybe in Melody Superwash

Long Leaves Beanie in Madelinetosh Vintage

Solitaire Beanie in Malabrigo Worsted

Laura Irwin's Layer Cloche in Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK

Ruche Beret in Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino

Glashutte Hat in Fibre Company Road to China Light

Which one to make first? I love St. Denis Nordique, so I think the Welted Toque will have to be up first. But the Long Leaves Beanie is such a great balance of garter stitch and lace. I also love the simplicity of the Brier Beanie. I'll just have to make them all. Did you see something you like?

Hats make great gifts, even for people who might not normally wear handknits. The details included in many of these designs add a professional touch to the finished product. Sally has more copies of this fabulous book on the way, so make a list of which ones you like best and come claim your yarn.

And don't forget...we are now open Mondays from 10-6 to feed your yarn habit!

Mondays are for Yarn

2011-09-27T12:52:00.000-07:00

Fall has officially arrived here in Portland. I know we'll be having a few more spotty days of sunshine and warmish weather before we really hunker down, but September 23 has come and gone, so I say it's fall.

I know more than a few of you are just as happy to see the rain as I am, so I feel comfortable admitting that I am quite pleased to welcome back the season of rain boots, Gore-tex, and woolly layers. In celebration, we will be open every single Monday from 10 to 6 through the knitting season.

I am also quite happy to welcome more new yarn to the shop. This pretty pile is Breathless from Shalimar Yarns. It's a fingering weight merino, cashmere, silk blend that reminds me a little bit of Madelinetosh Pashmina. The Breathless colors are beautiful, with a tonal richness that knits up into an interesting final product. We've already had at least one knitter match up a few lovely shades of blue for the Stripe Study Shawl from Ravelry designer Veera of Rain Knitwear Designs. We are trying it out right now to see how you all like it. If you love it and want more, please let us know! How about a few more beauty shots?

We also have a fresh batch of Jojoland Melody Superwash in some rich fall colors.

Many of you know and love this from the Swirl Scarf and Shawl we discussed in September last year. We have been out of the deeper colors all summer, but now they are back, and they are lovely. My favorites are: MS26, MS12, MS27, and MS36 (left to right).

Melody Superwash is a fingering weight, machine washable merino/nylon blend. It would make some mighty fine socks, but it seems to be used more often for scarves and shawls. The color repeat is very long on this yarn, so it won't knit up like a variegated yarn. It stripes over several rows, longer or shorter depending on how wide your piece is. There is a bit of a cult following for this yarn. If you are part of that cult, come and get it while we have a nice deep stock to choose from.

Ann also delivered a lovely mohair scarf to the shop...some biasing, some garter stitch, and a little ruching for you. It's a freebie pattern at the shop with the purchase of just two balls of Rowan Kidsilk Haze. I feel that this little darling would be the PERFECT gift for the woman who is perhaps a little hard to please. Add a little sparkle by knitting it up in Luna instead.

I know my fellow rain-worshipers are out there, because we chat about this on Sundays. Well, it is our time, my friends. And now you have Mondays to enjoy even more yarny inspiration. See you soon.

Make This: Scarves

2011-09-23T10:05:00.000-07:00

I have been asking around about what you all like to see here on our little blog. Aside from the shop updates and free patterns, it seems you all want me to show you what to make! Lucky for you, my brain is constantly thinking about fabulous pairings of patterns and yarns. Call it my version of Fantasy Football. In an effort to make project planning and selection as easy and fun as possible, I'm starting the "Make This" series. I'm going to kick things off with scarves.

Sneak peek of one of my new designs...not quite as basic as you might think

Most of us learned to knit by making a basic scarf. Over the years, I seem to have stopped knitting them, because I have the hardest time finding one each fall. I've been wearing a store-bought acrylic mess I received as a gift years ago, and that seems a little silly.

I love knitting scarves for several reasons: precise gauge is not critical, they make great gifts, the knitting is usually pretty straightforward, and they don't require an exorbitant amount of yarn. I'm going to share some patterns with you and give you a few yarn options at different price points.

Tristan Scarf

Tristan Scarf by Nancy Ricci is a shop favorite. Two skeins of chunky yarn and an interesting but straightforward stitch pattern, and you have a great scarf for anyone who might deserve it. If you have mastered the garter stitch scarf, this is a great next project.

Under $40: 2 balls Rowan Cocoon

Under $40: 3 balls of Classic Elite Ariosa

Under $30: 2 skeins Misti Alpaca Chunky (shown in the sample)

Under $30: 2 skeins Cascade 128 Superwash

Under $20: 2 skeins Lamb's Pride Bulky

Miss Jenni Shawl

Also from Nancy, the Miss Jenni Shawl in classic feather and fan stitch. If you have never tried lace, this would be a great choice for your first lace project. Feather and fan employs the most basic lace stitches for a very impressive result. The pattern is written for two yarns held together, a fingering weight and a lace wight mohair.

Under $65: 2 balls Karabella Lace Merino Silk + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

Under $50: 1 skein Classic Elite Alpaca Sox + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

About $50: any of our fabulous sock yarns + 2 balls Kidsilk Haze

If the thought of doubling yarns makes you nervous, you could easily make it work with a single strand. I would choose something with a little mohair to achieve that nice fuzzy halo.

Under $90: 2 skeins Artyarns Silk Rhapsody

Under $35: 3 balls Rowan Kid Classic

Rain on the Prairie Scarf

The Rain on the Prairie Scarf from Interweave Knits Spring 2011 is a sweet little tuck-in scarf, perfect for that one skein of pretty yarn you can't resist. You'll need less than 400 yards of anything from lace to sport weight. There are dozens of options at the shop; here are a few of my favorites.

Under $25: 1 skein Misti Hand Paint Suri & Silk (shown in the sample)

About $25: 1 ball Kauni Effectyarn

Under $25: 2 balls Rowan 4 Ply Soft

Bias Scarf in Firefly

The popular Bias Scarf I designed for Classic Elite Firefly works really well in other yarns, too. We have the beautiful orange sample, which has been getting a lot of love.

Bias Scarf in Fresco

This scarf would be great in something with a little silk or linen to accentuate the drape of the bias.

Under $40: 3 skeins Debbie Bliss Andes

Under $35: 3 balls Classic Elite Soft Linen

Under $30: 3 skeins Classic Elite Fresco (shown in the orange sample)

Under $30: 3 skeins Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool

I would love to have samples of all of these to show you, but we just can't knit that fast! So, you'll have to use your imagination and trust me that these will be fabulous.

Sadly, it looks like the cost of fiber is increasing across the board this year for a wide variety of reasons beyond the control of retailers. We will continue to do our best to keep our prices where they have been, but we wanted to give you loyal and fabulous customers a little heads-up on the whole thing. That being said, come get your yarn while my numbers are still good!

I am gearing up for the release of my own designs, including a few scarves. I've included some sneak peeks for you here, so stay tuned for more on that soon.

Sneak peek of another work-in-progress

Hopefully this little overview will get you jump started on scarf knitting, either to protect yourself from those chilly winds right around the corner or to wrap up as gifts. What do you want to talk about next?

Joseph Galler and Fresh Books

2011-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

We received a whole box full of lovely from Joseph Galler. We haven't carried many yarns from this company lately, but I'm glad these are back. They don't seem to have a website, so I'll give you the details.

Young girl snuggling your Heather Prime Alpaca

These skeins of Heather Prime Alpaca are huge! Seriously, 665 yards huge. It knits up at 6 stitches per inch on a US5 (sport weight). One skein would make a generous shawl, and two skeins are enough for an adult-sized sweater. Imagine a simple, lightweight cardigan knit up with this pure alpaca...what a great layer for our unpredictable weather. I'm thinking about one of the many options from Ravelry designer Heidi Kirrmaier (aka Pipibird), especially Vitamin D or Atelier.

And the Peruvian Tweed

Also on the table, we have Galler Peruvian Tweed (600 yards of marled alpaca, 5 to 5.5 stitches per inch on a US 7 or 8). Generous yardage and a slightly larger gauge for those of you who prefer the bigger needles. One skein would be the perfect thing for Stephen West's Boneyard Shawl, a free pattern just right for an adventurous beginning knitter.

The Peruvian Tweed is also a popular option for manly sweaters, scarves, and hats. It's not too heavy, and the tweedy/marled look keeps it masculine. Perhaps a little hat and scarf set for someone in your life? Maybe this one from Churchmouse Classics? It's a winner.

We also received a shipment of some of our favorite books, including some tried and true classics and a few new publications.

Elizabeth Zimmermann's legacy continues with Knit One, Knit All. I can't promise that there will be any copies left when you get to the shop, but I can promise there are more on the way. Also new, My Grandmother's Knitting, full of classic designs inspired by some pretty amazing grandmothers. You have likely heard of everyone who contributed to this book: Jared Flood, Cirilia Rose, Pam Allen, Leigh Radford, Ysolda Teauge, Larissa Brown, Chrissy Gardiner, Cookie A, Wendy Bernard...

And our return champions include: One Skein, Stitch n' Bitch, Happy Hooker, Last Minute Knitted Gifts, Vintage Baby Knits, Vintage Knits for Modern Babies, Boutique Knits, Simply Baby, How to Knit, How to Crochet, Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders, Knit & Purl, and Getting Started Knitting Socks. Whew!

The chill in the air has me wishing that I'd invested a little more time knitting for myself over the last few months. This gorgeous alpaca and these inspiring books are putting me in a selfish mood. Time to get knitting!

There are things...

2011-09-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

There are things I forgot to show you! I think I even teased you with a mention here and there, but I never got to the goods. Fortunately, we still have these books and magazines at the shop, and they are still pretty fabulous. Here we go.

Interweave Knits Weekend Knits 2011. (This is another one of those special issues that you'll have to hit the shop to see, since it's not part of a subscription package.) There are several projects in this issue that caught my attention.

Diana's Cardigan

Gansey Leg Warmers in Road to China Light

Elm Street Socks

Kilronan Mittens in Terra

Braided Slipper Socks in Cascade 128 Superwash

Norquin Beret in Canopy Fingering

In addition to the pretty projects, there are a few nice articles, too. This one provides instructions for tying and wearing scarves, if you need help with that sort of thing.

Another article delves into the world of handwashing. Great reference for you and great information to pass on to recipients of your handknit masterpieces.

The Best of Interweave Crochet and Knitted Lace: collections to add to your own library or to give as gifts.

Here are a few snippets from the crochet collection.

And the lace collection. (A few of these aren't listed on the Ravelry page for the book, but I promise they are in there.)

Bettie's Lace Stockings

Finally, Knit and Spin! Great for spinners of all levels, and, really, knitters of all levels, too. The magazine is full of designs for handspun yarn, but ready-spun yarn will work, too. It's broken up into categories, which helps if you are working with a limited amount of yarn.

Stuff for the hands, including the Fleece Lined Mittens from the cover

Hats! Love the Camel and Polwarth Hat

The luxury of handspun, handknit socks...Annukka

Pretty scarf choices, including the Undulating Scarf

Oh my, a Handspun Bunny Sweater

There is some great information in here about wool and yarn in general. I have not yet allowed myself to consider spinning, but I know one of us at the shop has...stop by and ask Adrienne to show you her pretty handspun.

I am linking to the Ravelry pages for these projects, because the links are much more reliable and detailed than Interweave's links. Do you all use Ravelry? Anyone interested in a little primer? Just say the word, and I'll get to work. Perhaps we could pool our collective knowledge and share tips and tricks.

In the meantime, stroll on down to the shop, enjoy some well-deserved air conditioning, and thumb through some of our books and magazines. See you soon!

New Classes and New Interweave Knits

2011-09-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

We have the Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts special issue in the shop. (Note: If you subscribe to IK, this issue will not be arriving in your mailbox as part of your regular subscription.)

I want to tell you about our fall classes, too, so I'll intersperse some photos of my favorite designs from the magazine to keep things interesting.

Roisin: a sneak peek from Ysolda Teauge's next book

Need to learn (or relearn) the basics? We have options. If Thursday nights are good for you, Adrienne's Knitting: Beginning and Beyond series is fabulous. In three two-hour classes, Adrienne will have you knitting, purling, working in the round, decreasing, and increasing. If you already know these basics, bring along whatever you want to try next and Adrienne will help you tackle your newest challenge.

Cephalohedron: A knitted octopus that folds into an octahedron

We also have our two hour Learn to Knit Workshop with Ann on Tuesday night. We have scheduled these once each month, so you can sign up whenever works for you. Ann will help you learn as much as you can in two hours. You'll walk away with the skills to get started on your first project!

McHenry: A puppy dog hat from Susan B. Anderson

Ann is also teaching a Learn to Crochet Workshop once each month. You'll learn the basics of crochet and be ready to take on some beginner projects. If you already know the basics, check out her Crocheted Hat Class later this month.

Flamboyant Shawl in Rittenhouse 5-Ply (a new personal favorite yarn)

Thank goodness we have Ann, because she is also a sock teacher! Ann's sock classes are so much fun, and we have one scheduled in October and one in November. I know many of you come in and drool at the pretty sock yarns. It's time for you to learn the magic of sock knitting. You won't go back.

Wattle and Daub Afghan: Stripes? Log cabin? Yes please.

I'll still be teaching my Sunday morning Knitting Techniques workshop. If you just need a little help getting going on something, sign up and come in before the shop opens to pick my brain for an hour. If I don't know how to help you, I'll find someone who does!

Overshot Mittens in St-Denis Nordique: a great first colorwork project

A few more of my favorites. A little handmade holiday ornamentation, anyone?

Felted Yule Trees

An Angel...

and a Bird

I love these gloves and this shawl. Great little treats for yourself or someone special.

Jet Gloves: perfect for that special skein of sock yarn too nice for feet

Blue Thistle Shawl in Kathmandu Aran Tweed (I told you it was good)

I'm a little weirded out that Interweave managed to go back to 1985 and convince 6-year-old me to model for these, but they are still pretty fabulous. A little red capelet and bonnet and a shawl-collared cardigan with birds on it? So classic but so cute.

Hollyberry Cape and Bonnet: Little Red with cables

The Scherenschnitte Cardigan in Spud & Chloe Sweater

Do you see something here you want to try? Take a look at our classes and sign up for a little instruction from one of our fabulous teachers!

Kathmandu Cowl

2011-08-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

Perhaps mid-August is not the ideal time to be knitting a wool cowl. What can I say, my love of tweed knows no bounds.

I whipped up a little cowl to show off the pretty colors of the Kathmandu Aran Tweed from Queensland Collection.

So, I love this yarn. This is one of my desert island yarns*. Tweedy, crunchy merino wool with just enough cashmere and silk to make it buttery soft, especially after a little soak. And the colors, oh my. The flecks in the different colorways really compliment each other, so play around with color combinations.

Sailor Blue (163) and Off White (135)

Petrol (158) and Charcoal (177)

Chocolate (161) and Brown (133)

Mocha (184) and Hunter Green (174)

The knit and purl stripes make this cowl totally reversible and flipable, too, so you can show off whichever color best suits your mood. It appears that I was pondering red velvet cupcakes when I chose my colors, Vintage Wine (182) and Natural (176). I just couldn't say no to that deep pink.

Here's the free pattern for you. Enjoy!

*If you were stranded on a desert island and had to choose one yarn to knit with forever, what would it be? Perhaps we knitters should discuss polar iceberg yarns instead...

Kathmandu Cowl

by Leah Bandstra

This cowl is reversible and flipable!

I didn’t use every last bit of the yarn, so you should have enough to do a few extra rounds with each color if you’d like.

Materials:

2 balls (one of each color) Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran (104 yds/50g), #182 and #176

US8 16” circular needles

Stitch marker

Finished size: About 24” around and 10” tall

Gauge: About 4.5 stitches per inch

Pattern:

CO 108 stitches with A. Join in the round and place marker.

Knit 1 round with A.

Purl 15 rounds with A. (Piece should measure about 3” from cast on.)

Knit 4 rounds with B.

Purl 8 rounds with A.

Knit 8 rounds with B.

Purl 4 rounds with A.

Knit 15 rounds with B.

Purl 1 round with B.

BO loosely knitwise using B.

Weave in your ends, block, and enjoy!

Mountain Colors

2011-08-21T23:15:00.000-07:00

Exciting news for fall...we will be carrying Mountain Colors Yarns!

Mountain Colors produces hand-dyed wool and wool blends for all sorts of fiber arts. Their colors, both solids and multis, are deep, vibrant, and rich with great names inspired by the mountains of Montana where the company is based. One of my very first knitting projects was a little felted bag using the beautiful Bitterroot Rainbow. The name and the colorway have obviously stuck with me. Check out their story; it seems like a company full of really nice people.

In September, we will be hosting an event with lots of Mountain Colors Yarn, a trunk show featuring many of their lovely designs, and some give aways. Right now, we have a smattering of pretties to tempt you: Crazyfoot, a superwash sock yarn; River Twist (above) a beautiful 2-ply with a handspun feel; and Twizzle, a pretty merino silk blend that knits up with a heathered look (below).

I'll let you know when the trunk show is on the way. In the meantime, check out this great little scarf Ann designed. It's a free pattern when you buy just one skein of Ripple, the surprise star of our summer yarns.

I pretty much love it, and I will be making one. Stay tuned for our next round of classes...Beginning & Beyond, Crocheted Hats, Learn to Knit Workshop. What else would you like?

Even More Samples

2011-08-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Jenni has a pretty new display up in the front window featuring three little pixie hats in three great yarns: Aslan Trends Del Sur, Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica (doubled), and Berroco Peruvia Quick (also doubled but not pictured). The pattern is the Pointy Elf Hat from the cover of More Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.

The three hats look so different in the different yarns. Jenni made the smallest size, which is a bit snug on my almost-two-year old pixie. Still pretty cute, though. Added bonus: it's a three hour project.

Ann has been busy, too. Check out these sweet little fingerless mitts in Kollage Glisten. The free pattern from Leslie at a Friend to knit with is called Toasty (available on her right sidebar). There is an even simpler version without the thumb called Toast. Either pair will take two skeins of yarn. You may even be able to squeak two pairs out of three skeins...

The crochet hooks have been flying, too. Ann will be teaching a crocheted hat class (more info on that soon, I promise), so she made a few samples.

The Men's Beanie from Blue Sky Alpacas is made with just one skein of their Worsted Cotton. The design is classic and very wearable. Even if you have never crocheted before, you can make this. In fact, I think I might have to.

If you're looking for something smaller and/or a little more girly, check out this sweet Shell Stitch Beanie, a free pattern on Ravelry. Also made with Blue Sky Worsted Cotton, this would make a quick gift for a summer babe.

Our pretty new shop window also features a beautiful weaving from our friend Doris. Thank you, Doris! Come take a look and start thinking about some hats.

Samplerama

2011-08-09T12:46:00.000-07:00

Our army of sample knitters has been busy creating some new pretties for the shop. These pieces would all make great gifts, if you were so inclined.

Emily knit up a cold-weather version of my Firefly Bias Scarf using Classic Elite Fresco, an angora, alpaca and wool blend with a soft halo. We have a really nice range of colors on this yarn. Knit with only three skeins, this whole project costs about $25.

Have you tried The Fibre Company yarns? I'm a believer. Ashley knit the Poplar Cowl (a free pattern from Kelbourne Woolens) with two skeins of Organik. The stitch pattern is pretty simple, but the texture and contrasting colors have a big impact. Plus, this yarn feels like butter, in the best way. Less than $25 for this one.

Several of you have already appreciated the Just Enough Ruffles scarf in Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse Merino 5-ply. So many, in fact, that we are out of the pattern! Never fear, we have more patterns on the way and a wide range of solid and variegated colors in this beautiful yarn. Ashley used less than two skeins (maybe even one and a half), putting this pretty little scarf in the $30 range.

The Shetland Trader's Shoormal in Rowan Cocoon. This yarn is pure Rowan luxury, and the pattern is interesting but not too complicated. After knitting this sample, Emily (another one) is now in love with this stuff. Knit with three balls, the yarn for this project comes in under $50.

Sally made this beautiful cowl from Ravelry designer Lisa Mutch of Northboundknitting. Lisa also designed the capelet I made earlier this year and many other beauties. This is Berroco Peruvia, which we are expecting to have in great supply soon. Two skeins for this cowl will cost you about $17.

Now that our shop is well-dressed in new samples, stop by and see what inspires you. I wonder, which one is your favorite?

Fall Arrivals: Aslan Trends, Little Red, and Kauni

2011-08-02T22:44:00.000-07:00

New stuff is arriving! Above is Del Sur, a super-bulky thick and thin yarn from Aslan Trends. Imagine a big ol' scarf or the pointy elf hat from the cover of More Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

You guys loved the Royal Alpaca last fall, and we have a whole lot more in the shop right now. This is one of the softest and finest alpaca yarns you can buy. We have a sample of Nancy's lovely Lana Glove in the beautiful mustard yellow. This yarn would be stunning for cowls, hats, gloves, or the most amazingly soft sweater you've ever worn.

We love Ysolda Teauge, and we have her newest book in stock right now, Little Red in the City. This book is AMAZING. There are seven classic sweater patterns, and the sizes range from a 30" to 60" bust.

In addition to the patterns, Ysolda outlines so many valuable techniques. She really appreciates that simply making a sweater larger doesn't make it work for a curvy figure. This book is packed with valuable design advice, illustrated in easy to understand hand-drawings and notes. You could design a sweater from the ground up, or adjust one of her patterns for the perfect fit. I can't even begin to describe everything in here. Come by and flip through a copy before they are all gone.

Last but not least, a basket full of Kauni. This lovely yarn is flying out the door, but we have more on the way. More on this pretty stuff when we restock.

Happy Sock Summit

2011-07-27T14:41:00.000-07:00

As many of you already know, Sock Summit is happening at the Oregon Convention Center this weekend. Although we won't be participating this year, we wanted to offer up a little something to those of you who are. Thursday through Sunday this week during the Summit, we are offering 10% off your total purchase of items in stock at the shop.

As usual, we are open until 10PM tonight (Wednesday) for Open Knit Night. As an added bonus, ae will be open until 9PM on Thursday for the monthly Alberta Art Walk (aka Last Thursday). Alberta Street will be closed off after 6PM, and parking on side streets gets pretty full, so beware.

Enjoy your Sock Summit classes, and come by the shop for a nice sweet deal!

Market Bags

2011-07-22T15:23:00.000-07:00

The sun is out, my tomato plants are gong nuts, and I am looking forward to some farmer's market shopping this weekend. I usually remember to bring along a ratty old tote bag, but more often than I'd like to admit, I end up with plastic. I would love to have something a little nicer this year. Enter the fabulous handmade market bag!

For you crocheters out there, the Crocheted Linen Grocery Tote, a free pattern from the the talented and generous folks at The Purl Bee.

Ann worked this up with two skeins of Tahki Cotton Classic, and the original pattern calls for just one skein of Euroflax linen from Louet. If you love this but you are doubting your crochet skills, consider Ann's class on Monday, August 8 and 15. This is a great project for a beginner, and Ann will walk you through the whole project.

Not to leave the non-crocheters stuck with plastic, we have a few nice knitted options, too. Elisa's Nest Tote, also from The Purl Bee, is perfect for the market, the library, the knitting group, the playground...

One skein of the gorgeous Cascade Ultra Pima is all you need for this. The project includes some cool details, including the attached I-cord handles. Learn something new with the easy-to-follow tutorial included with the instructions on the Purl Bee website.

Local designer (and Close Knitter) Lars Jensen designed the Knit Mesh Shopping Bag, and we have the pattern available at the shop. Lars gives options for different sizes and mesh patterns, so you can design your own look from one pattern.

This sample is knit with Plymouth Fantasy Naturale, but it would be great in any worsted weight cotton. The Debbie Bliss Eco Aran Fairtrade Cotton would be really nice if you prefer a solid color.

There are so many patterns out these for these kinds of bags. Which one is your favorite? Join the cause and work to eliminate the plastic!

Not-So Last Minute

2011-07-17T21:54:00.000-07:00

Now that we have the sale behind us and fall yarns tricking in, I am thinking about gifts. I won't give you the countdown or anything, but the holiday season is going to happen again this year. Regardless of what or how you celebrate, it's always nice to give handmade.

We will, of course, be stocking up on the super bulky yarns later in the fall for you last-minute knitters, but I thought I'd offer up some ideas if you'd like to get started a little earlier.

First up, the Felted Shetland Beret from Churchmouse Yarns. I was inspired to make this by one of my kids who complained that her knitted hats were always "too holey."

This sweet little cap knits up quickly and requires only 2 balls of Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift, which we have in a lovely array of tweedy colors.

The pattern gives instructions for hand-felting, but I cheated and just ran it through my front-loader. I put the hat in a zippered pillowcase, added a few pairs of grubby old jeans, and ran it through a few cycles on hot. If you choose to use your machine, be sure to check the progress after each cycle. If possible, try to skip the spin cycle, as the spinning can lead to creases.

Before felting, it is pretty big and loose.

After felting, the fabric is soft and dense with a nice little halo.

The best part? The whole thing comes in well under $20. My kid mostly approves of the final product. Her only request was that it be red, so it looks like I'll be knitting another.