The Making of the "Three in One" Kits

For those of you on our email list, you saw our latest Mixed Fiber piece on Thursday when we sent out our last email. This Mixed Fiber piece has always been a shawl... but this year we've added another free pattern for a scarf that can be worn as a cowl... so it's a Three in One!

Each fall we pick out new yarns to make up this mixed fiber piece. We try to get 700-750 yards of different fibers in colors that work well together. This year we we were even able to do it for over $10 less than last year's kit. Success!

As we walk through the shop and look for contenders, we're always conscious of yardage and price. Berroco Ultra Alpaca was our number one pick for the kit this year for a number of reasons. This yarn is beautiful. It's a great worsted weight yarn to work with. It's soft and warm, drapes beautifully and shows superb stitch definition. NOT that we needed stitch definition in this... but it's also got great yardage - 215 yards per skein - and the color selection is incredible. 

Then we wanted to add some color. Berroco Boboli stood out because of its gorgeous variegated shades. This glimmering wool blend is really soft and has a subtle shine, so we knew it would add a lot to this kit. And again, fabulous yardage (206).

After we picked Ultra Alpaca and Boboli, we wanted to add some texture. We chose Joseph Galler Flore II. This is a new yarn for us. We've had worsted weight mohairs off and on over the years. Some people love mohair, and some people hate it. I've never really been a fan of a mohair/wool blend as I find it scratchy. But this is a KID mohair and wool blend. And scratchy? It's not! It is wonderfully soft and I would wear it alone, like I do some of the laceweight kid mohair blends we carry. The yardage is only 98, but that didn't stop us from including it. It's that special!

We only needed one more yarn, and we chose Filatura di Crosa Gioiello. Gioiello is another kid mohair and wool blend, but in a much finer weight. It has the most beautiful shimmery and sparkly metallic running throughout it, and has a whopping 220 yards. So it gives this mixed fiber piece just a bit of PIZAZZ!

We're thilled with the shawl - but then that's no surprise... it's really one of our most popular samples each fall and winter. 

The shawl in the colorway "Nut"

And we love the new scarf/cowl! Because two patterns come with this kit, it really does appeal to a wider range of knitters.

The scarf in the colorway "Seafoam"

It's a nice wide scarf and is very versatile in terms of wearing!

Worn as a cowl

This is on sale (15% off) through 11/16/11 with code THREEINONE in your cart.

And crocheters, we're not trying to leave you out! We are hoping that maybe next year we can also add a crochet piece to the mix. Stay tuned.

Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011

contributed by Shawn

I just can't keep up with the number of new patterns that have arrived in the shop that I want to make!  Interweave Knits Holiday Gifts 2011 arrived just in time to tempt all of our customers with excellent gift ideas!

I didn't waste any time getting started. I grabbed some Berroco Remix so that I can try out the short row techniques that Robin Ulrich uses to create the Northwoods Coasters. I'll let you know how that goes soon.

Next on my list? Is it an octopus? Or an octahedron? The Cephalohedron by Erica Schlueter is both! The Kidz Orange color in Berroco Comfort DK will be perfect. Then again, I can see one of the spotted colorways being a fun choice too!

I think I will be practicing my garter stitch seams by making a few of the Quatrefoil Cups by Katya Frankel in Berroco Vintage.

I might have to sneak the Midtown Cowl by Jenny Williams into my queue just for myself.  It's a wonderful excuse to knit with the Filatura di Crosa Superior yarn.

So many of my favorite yarns make an appearance in this issue that I just don't know when I'll have time to get all these projects in.  We just got some new Malabrigo stock so I've been eyeing the Rib and Button Scarf by Talitha Kuomi. It's shown in Malabrigo Rios yarn.

I also like the First Friday Shrug by Erica Jackofsky (Fiddle Knits). This is shown in Malabrigo Lace yarn.

Another of my favorite yarns, Manos del Uruguay Rittenhouse is simply stunning in the Flamboyant Shawl by Maria Leigh.

The great patterns don't stop here! Come on in and check out all of the other amazing gift ideas.  Don't forget you have just under 3 months before the winter holiday season hits!

Knitscene Fall 2011 Preview

contributed by Shawn

The wonderful fall projects just keep rolling right in!  Check out the new issue of Knitscene Fall 2011.

In keeping with the 'We Love Bulky Yarns' trend for this fall the Grand Palais Shawl by Tanis Gray will be quick knit in Tahki Montana Yarn. This is a simple garter stitch triangular shawl with a knit-on lace edging. Hey what a great way to try lace knitting - with bulky yarn!

We often get asked for advice on top-down and bottom-up knitting patterns in the shop. The Beauty of Seamless article by Amy Palmer discusses top down vs bottom up circular seamless knitting techniques.  She suggests pitfalls that may arise so that you can weigh your options BEFORE you start your project. And she points out that the beauty of knitting sweaters in the round is that you can often try these on in the middle of your knitting process to be sure you get it just right!  Knitting Pure & Simple patterns are some of my favorites for beginner top-down patterns, and Figheadh Fundamentals has some great ones too.

 

For those of you sending off a college-bound guy this fall, there is a great quick bulky knit for him! Take a look at the East Hale Cardigan by Alexis Winslow.  Knit in Cascade EcoWool the yarn offers a range of lovely neutral shades in un-dyed wool.  A quick zippered layer with a shawl collar and garter trim detailed with i-cord edging.

By knitting the lace weight Filatura di Crosa Nirvana Yarn at a sport/dk weight gauge, Debbie O'Neill offers the sophisticated Hawkmoth Pullover. It's perfect for layering over those summer tops on a cool autumn evening.

And just because I LOVE saying the word 'Lepidoptera' I have to point out the Lepidoptera Cardigan by Anne Kuo Lukito.  This is knit in Manos del Uruguay Lace. The patterning is lovely - like scales on a butterfly wing - and the difference in texture is achieved by knitting the lace yarn single stranded for the body and double stranded for the edging panels.

Amy Herzog features two different patterns in this issue that use some of my favorite yarns. The Cooke Cardigan is knit using Fibre Company Canopy Worsted. I think it would be lovely in my favorite color Sarsparilla.

Also catching my eye for this fall is the Pinstripe Pullover knit using Berroco Ultra Alpaca.  We got in some great new shades for fall, and I just have to choose a color first!

Sample Previews

These two projects are almost finished and we thought we'd share the previews!

Barb recently started a new scarf with Filatura di Crosa Nirvana and Stacy Charles Crystal. It's knit in the round and all in stockinette. It was a perfect knitting project for last weekend when she watched her son Will graduate from college! A car ride, a long wait for the ceremony to start, the ceremony itself, and a return car ride meant lots of knitting time for Barb! It may not look like much now, but the trick is all in the finishing. It's in the round now, but it won't be later... Stay tuned for a gorgeous, lightweight scarf that will definitely WOW you!

And my Gaia is so close to being finished! I just LOVE the Berroco Remix. It's so wonderful to knit with (and quick!) and the feel of the fabric is wonderful.

I was definitely frustrated at first when I had knit about 11" of the sweater and then happened upon a Ravelry group led by the designer that talked about erratas that she had found. Of course I went to Berroco to download another pattern, but it seems that not everything has been fixed on the new version (like the schematic!) I am very visual, and I often work directly from the schematic. When something is fixed in the written instructions but not in the schematic, I tend to go "grrrrr" a lot. (I have left a message with Berroco about this and hope they will soon fix it!) I like the sweater - it's really cute on and it fits perfectly! I have not done the sleeves yet, and when I tried it on last night, I actually - for a moment - considered just finishing the sleeve edging and making it sleeveless... But I think I will crank out the sleeves - that way it will be more useful with a few sundresses I have. Stay tuned for photos!

Hooker alert!

We just got the Interweave Crochet Spring 2011 Magazine, and it's got some awesome projects, as usual. I'm particularly fond of the Dahlia Shawl which is done in Manos del Uruguay Lace. This is the one Manos yarn we do not yet stock (maybe now we will have to look more closely at it!) so I would be tempted to substitute the Filatura di Crosa Nirvana or the Malabrigo Lace.

The dew Drop bracelet is really sweet and would make a great gift! It's a perfect project for Classic Elite Firefly, and of course, a visit to Bead Crazy would be in order for this one.

Another beautiful project is the Magic Carpet Blanket. It's completely portable, and I would love to do this in some really fun colors of Berroco Comfort DK.

Just one more to share... the Cupcake Sweater in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. This one is a sampler Tunisian Crochet Cardigan - that incorporates four Tunisian stitches - the simple stitch, the knit stitch, the purl stitch and a lace stitch. Maybe Barb will have to make this one now that she's so hooked on Tunisian crochet!

Manic-In Monday

Are you seeing red this time of the year? It's certainly a stressful period of time for many folks, but we hope you can all just take a moment and relax and focus on what's really important in your life...

like looking GOOD! I don't know if our gal is seeing red, but she's definitely WEARING red, and wearing it well! She's all set for a pre-holiday shopping trip - she still needs to pick up a few stocking stuffers, and her parcels are sure to fit in her stylish bag. We're not sure exactly where she's going, but if you see a flash of red & black ruffles, then you've spotted her... she's hard to miss!Shawl: This ruffled shawl is a free pattern on the Tahki/Stacy Charles website, using 2 great Filatura di Crosa yarns: Superior and XX yarn and Filatura di Crosa Opera d'Arte.
Bag: Zuma bag from Namaste

Are you seeing ruffles?

We're seeing a lot of ruffles around here. From bathing suits, to trims on sweaters, and now yarns that create their own ruffles! It's definitely a trend that's catching on. Today's novelty yarns hold an important place in the yarn shop. Everybody wants them, but they want them to be unique and special. Not like novelties of 4 and 5 years ago. I think you'll agree, these "rufflers" are certainly unique!

When my rep showed me the first yarn (Flounce, from KFI), I was completely unimpressed. To see the yarn in ball form, well, it just doesn't move you. But when you see THIS: you're sold in an instant. Flounce is not knitted like other yarns, though. You'll want to watch this little video before you start, to be sure you don't get off on the wrong track!

The Flounce scarf is so much fun. Two skeins makes a generous adult scarf - and one skein will work perfectly for a younger adult or kid - you would just use fewer stitches.

Another new yarn that ruffles is Filatura di Crosa Operadarte. Opera d'arte means "work of art" in Italian. What a perfect name for this yarn! It's a ribbon yarn that has a mohair picot along one edge and square eyelets along the other edge. By carrying it along with a main yarn, and working through every other square eyelet, you can create a delicate ruffle. Here's a little scarf/shawlette that Barb just finished using Superior and Operadarte (1 each).Pattern is free with yarn purchase. Just ask for it when you buy it!