Don't Be Afraid To Mix It Up!

In past years we have put together a mixed fiber shawl - using 4-6 skeins of different fibers in different colors and textures. These shawls have been really popular with our customers and are so fun to make!

Last year we made a small throw blending two Berroco yarns - Boboli and Cirrus - called the Checkerboard Throw. Another fun project, this one was also a popular pick for our knitters. 

Last spring we started carrying the Plymouth Baby Alpaca Brush yarn again, and we realized that it's a great alternative for people who do not like (or cannot use) mohair. The Cirrus yarn does contain mohair, so some customers who wanted to make it, but who don't like to use mohair, were not able to. Now that we have the Plymouth Baby Alpaca Brush, this throw CAN be made with NO mohair content. YAY!

The colors pair beautifully with the Boboli, so come on in and check them out to pick your favorite combination. We've already come up with 9 options for an alpaca version of the throw:

 ...in addition to the 11 new options for the mohair version.

We love to mix fibers like this! If you don't want to make a throw, consider using these mixes for a cowl or scarf.

Customer Feedback

Customer Feedback is great, whether it's positive or negative. Positive feedback makes us smile and tells us we're doing a great job. Negative feedback makes us grow and strive even harder to be the best we can be.

We recently got an email with some nice feedback, and it included a picture of a work-in-progress. We LOVE it when our customers send pictures! Here's a gorgeous cabled blanket that our customer June is working on.

She emailed us say, "Thanks to Shawn, who helped me out over the phone when I was trying to figure out this cable pattern. You were so patient and explained things so that I could keep on knitting!! Using your Encore in a soft, soft yellow."

That would be Pale Yellow # 896. A great color. Thanks for sharing June... and great job!

Customer Project: Stained Glass Granny Squares

Take a look at this lovely crochet project! The colors are gorgeous and the tiny little granny squares outlined and pieced together with the black yarn reminds me of a beautiful stained glass window.

One of our customers (we can't share the name because this is a surprise!) shared this project with us. She's using fingering weight yarns (many of the multicolored hues are Koigu KPPPM) to create this amazing piece.  

This is quite the undertaking because the squares are 2-3 inches across and she is putting each one together as she works to form a large blanket for her son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

What a beautiful wedding gift - I REALLY hope we get to see the final product before it is gifted!

Fun Factor Score - 10 out of 10

A couple of months ago I started a new project for the shop. We had just received our first shipment of Hikoo Simpliworsted yarn in the shop, and a really neat pattern booklet that went with it.

The Building Blocks pattern booklet is great!

It's got patterns for 12 different squares that can be combined to make a small afghan (36" x 48"), a smaller throw (36" x 36") or baby blanket (24" x 36"). Each square is really fun to do, and involves different stitch techniques, so you'll never be bored. 

12 different blocks - mix and match, or make them all!

This portable knitting is great - you won't have a huge blanket on your lap - just a 12" square. And of course, because you're working one square at a time, it seems like it goes faster. (At least it did for me!)

Most people choose one color of the Simpliworsted and make a solid colored afghan, but we shook things up a bit and picked 6 fun colors. The result - a gorgeous color blocked baby blanket!

My first 1 and 1/2 squares

The Simpliworsted yarn was HEAVEN to work with. And I really did love pulling different colors out of the bag when it was time for a new square.

Light at the end of the tunnel: last square!

I scanned a working copy of my pattern and sent it to my Kindle. Those reading glasses did come in handy, as PDFs are not as easy to magnify on the Kindle...

 
And then it was time for blocking - a date with Eucalan in the sink:

After the basin was drained, I gently pressed out the excess water and then rolled the squares up in a clean, dry towel. Note how - even though I followed the pattern exactly, some squares are not the same size. Ah, the MAGIC of blocking!

Squares are blocked to correct measurements.

Looks like I need a few more blocking squares!

And then after a bit of seaming, here it is:

Gorgeous, and FUN.

Customer Project - Crocheted Blankets

contributed by Barb

We caught up with customer Sue B. recently and she showed us two blankets she had just finished.  One for a boy:

And one for a girl:

They are made with Plymouth Encore and Plymouth Encore Tweed and are worked in a crocheted ripple stitch pattern. What a perfect blanket for when you are watching TV!

We think they're beautiful and the colors she chose are delicious. It really makes me want to make something like this. Thanks for sharing Sue!

Perfect summer project

contributed by Barb

Before the birth of my second child I did a lot of quilting.  I have a background in accounting and so I'm a numbers person. That's why I loved all the geometric patterns.  One that always stood out for me was the Log Cabin design. Log Cabin blocks can look so different, depending on how they are arranged.

Earlier this summer I found a crochet pattern for a log cabinblock. In addition to using different colors, it uses different stitch patterns so I knew it would be really fun to make. I decided to start a new blanket for my bed.  

This project - since each block is separate - is perfect for summer! Who wants a big, warm blanket in your lap when it's hot out? I found plenty of color choices with the Berroco Vintage yarn.  I had already used this to make the Chic Knits Cassidy Sweater (past blog here) and knew I would like the result.  

I brought in the blocks and Jill and I had fun arranging them in different layouts.

I'm still not sure how I'll put it together. Maybe this way?

Or this way?

What do you think!?

The trouble with working in a yarn shop...

contributed by Emily

I was on restock duty in the shop the other day. This may sound like a boring task, but remember – I work in a yarn shop, so this task is loaded with hidden dangers!

For instance, I’ve been ogling this lovely crocheted afghan for ages now. (Please click on the link for the beautiful pictures!) Lucky for me, I can read the German pattern!

Well, it turns out that while I was checking the Berroco Vintage yarns for restock, it suddenly clicked in my brain – Hey! Vintage now comes in two gorgeous shades of grey, perfect for that blanket!

Like I said, this job has its share of dangers!

New Mixed Fiber Throw Preview!

We've got a new mixed fiber throw sample in the shop, and it's simply stunning!

By combining two gorgeous Berroco yarns (Berroco Cirrus and Berroco Boboli) with an easy, reversible pattern, we ended up with what we think is THE throw of the year! 

Barb put together some super color combinations. And the best part is that the pattern is free and the yarn is just $116. This is really reasonable for a throw that measures 45" square, NOT including fringe (and it's fringed on two sides.)

Don't forget to put this on your "must-make" list for this fall! The pattern is free when you purchase the yarn to make this.

Thoughts on Afghan Kits

contributed by Emily

There are two things I am really, really looking forward to with the arrival of autumn. (Well okay, there are a million things – autumn in Vermont is my very favorite time of the year – cider, pumpkins, sweater weather, foliage!)

But what really has me counting down the days until October is the return of Game of Thrones on T.V., and the new Mountain Colors Afghan kits that we have! 

I have fallen head over heels in love with the Ice colorway, and can’t wait to knit it up while snuggled up on my sofa, watching the Lannisters and Starks battle it out!

Colorway: ICE

New Noro Inspiration

contributed by Shawn

The new Noro Knitting Magazine Premiere Issue Fall 2012 (http://www.kyarns.com/product/noro-magazine-fall-2012/noro-knitting-patterns) is full of new Noro inspiration!

I loved the Crochet Slippers:

Crochet Slippers

So I immediately grabbed my new favorite color of Noro Kureyon and worked up a pair of these. They're a perfect summer adaptation of warm wooly slippers!

My slippers!

I love the Crochet Throw made of hexagon shapes.

Crochet Throw

This is a perfect crochet pattern alternative to the Modular Afghan that I love so much from the Knit Noro book.

I already have some favorite colors of Noro Silk Garden picked out for the Checkerboard Cap.

Checkerboard Cap

All you need is 1 skein each of 2 different colors of Noro Silk Garden yarn for this simple color work hat.

And, it you're inclined to begin your Holiday Knitting in July, then you might want to take a look at these classic hats: the Man's Slouchy Hat and the Man's Ribbed Hat.

Slouchy Hat

Ribbed Hat

Each hat can be done with just 2 skeins of Kureyon (1 skein each of 2 different colors). I think they are perfect designs that anyone would love to receive as a gift this winter.

The Cropped Jacket features a wonderful construction that shows off the Noro colors so well!

Cropped Jacket

Cropped Jacket - back view

The pattern calls for 984 yards color A and 656 yards color B Silk Garden Sock.  We no longer stock the Silk Garden Sock, so have already helped some people choose from the colors of Taiyo Sock yarn so they could get started on this one right away in time to wear for late summer!

I hope this magazine inspires you to pick up some new colorful knitting or crochet projects too!

Great News! New Throw Kits Will Soon Be Available!

contributed by Shawn

We used to sell the Colinette AbFab Afghan kits in the shop.  Before we stopped selling these kits a few years ago, I offered to knit my mom one in the colors of her choice.  I started it and was about half-way through when I got distracted by other projects. 

I finally pulled it out last week and completed it just in time to send it off to my mom as a surprise Mother's Day gift!  It was so easy since the stitches aren't complicated - the effect is all about the colors and textures!  I can't believe I didn't finish this long ago. It's really a beautiful piece and I even took the time to do the tassels and it looks amazing.

Jill was in town this past week meeting with all of our sales reps. She and Barb bought a lot of fun new things for fall and winter, including... new mixed fiber afghan kits! 

Stay tuned, because we've got about 6 or 7 colorways coming in a gorgeous afghan kit from Mountain Colors! We can't wait to have these in the shop.