Amity Print - Great for Little Ones

Have you tried Amity Print from Ella Rae? We brought this yarn in last fall and are overwhelmed at how popular it is! It's soft, it's self-patterning, and it's machine washable. Hurrah!

So many customers fall in love with the cheerful colors of this yarn. And many decide to make the Oliver Cardigan on the cover of the Knitwear for Children Booklet #102 because it's completely adorable.

Others grab a ball and make this little baby hat. It's a great gift and the pattern (though included in book #102) is also available for free in the shop when you purchase a ball of Amity Print. 

We just got two new colors in this yarn, and they're perfect baby colors! One pink and one blue...

Holiday Inspiration in August

contributed by Shawn

I hope we won't spoil anyone's fun this holiday season, but we just have to share these!

Pauli saw our SnoBuddies shop samples and knew exactly what she wanted to treat all of her children and their families to for the 2011 holiday season. She got the Knitting at Knoon Snobuddies pattern and has been VERY busy. She's made 47 of these little guys! Each one represents a member of her family - WOW! We are so impressed with this.

When she brought me the photo she also brought some snapshots of a couple of other projects.  She's been busy making small knitted toys for relatives she knows will appreciate them.  Here are a golden retriever (knit in Ella Rae Amity Print along with a few sheep knit in various worsted weight yarns.  

I know it's only August, but the holidays are fast approaching! If you are looking for some of these fun little toys to knit as gifts, check out the new Spud & Chloe at the Farm book, Itty Bitty Toys, and other Knitting at Knoon patterns.

Manic-In Monday

It's a very rainy April day here in Vermont. We're not complaining though - at least it's not white... yet.

Our gal isn't letting the weather get her down. She figures that adding a little bit of "bling" to her outfit will raise her spirits. The yarn that her sweater is knit with is a comfortable cotton blend which softly glitters! And even though it's not total short sleeve weather yet, she's baring her arms a bit with these short sleeves. She's got a beautiful shawl around her neck in case she feels chilled by that deep V neck.Sweater: Taana Cardigan sweater knit in Berroco Glint yarn from Berroco Book #306 Glint
Shawl: Deirdre Shawl (free pattern on ravelry!) knit in Ella Rae Lace Merino

Manic-In Monday

This week's sweater is a gorgeous fingering weight cardigan, paired with a scrumptiously soft, feminine scarf. Sure, sweaters in fingering weight yarn take much longer to make, but they're SO worth it! They are lightweight, yet warm, and can really be worn in every season of the year. And the scarf? Our top seller - and if you've touched it, you know why.

Sweater: Florence Cardigan from Ella Rae Lace Merino Book #104 made up in a solid color of Ella Rae Lace Merino. Our sample is knit in a color we no longer carry, but think outside of the box on this... if you can't find a color you like, may we suggest Malabrigo Sock or Spud & Chloe Fine?

Scarf: Jade Sapphire Cashmere Scarf for Her kit.

Free on Friday

This week's free pattern is a new favorite of ours. One day a couple of months ago, I ran next door to the warehouse to grab some yarn for a customer. While I was there, a skein of Ella Rae Lace Merino caught my eye. I already knew I loved this yarn, but this one particular color made me swoon (Teal, Lime & Maroon). It just BEGGED to come back over to the shop with me and find its rightful place in a finished object of some sort.

But what would that be? This gorgeous skein of yarn sat next to me on my desk for weeks and weeks. We wanted to make a one skein project with it, but which one? Socks? Fingerless mitts? A lightweight hat? No, no and no. We were stumped, and the skein was sad.

Barb was looking on Ravelry one day, and came across this free pattern for the Deirdre Shawl. It's your basic triangular shawl, but it incorporates different stitch patterns which make it really interesting to knit, and beautiful to wear. So she took the skein home, and look at it now? WOW. Now it's a happy skein! It has become a great shoulder wrap for under a coat, or a lightweight cover for those chilly restaurants.

And remember, a good blocking is important for lace knitting!