Get it while it's hot!

contributed by Shawn

Many of you may recognize this amazingly simple, flamboyant scarf.

And you probably also remember how the Flounce yarn was gone in a flash last season? And how we couldn't get more because the supplier was COMPLETELY OUT OF EVERY COLOR? We waited for MONTHS for our reorders to arrive and we only got a limited amount of just a few of the colors. It was certainly well after the holiday season before we could let customers know it was available again.

Well there are 8 NEW amazing colors available now and we have them in stock! But we have a feeling this yarn is going to be hard to get this again this season especially as the time for holiday gift giving draws near.

So we've purchased other ruffle yarns that are almost exactly like the Flounce. That means we have more supply and more colors! Check out Rozetti Marina, Plymouth Joy and Katia Ondas. In addition to these three we have many other new ruffle yarns. 

Even though we have added new ruffle yarns and increased our stock, we still anticipate another shortage. So please DO NOT WAIT to get the colors you like, or the colors you think your friends and co-workers will ask for as soon as they see YOUR scarf.

These scarves are quick and easy knitting projects (no purling!) and make great gifts.

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.

Color Fade Hats

contributed by Shawn

My color fade hat seems to be a hit.  After my original test (Jordan's) I knit up another one using a brighter green and this seems to have gotten everyone's attention. 

I'm working on multiple requests for additional hats in different color schemes. I snagged some Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool when it was discounted. 

There are some colors left, but if you want to grab it, don't delay! Once it is gone, I think the Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport yarn will be a great substitute. There are so many possible combinations... I might have to take a color card home to facilitate this process! 

The hat is a simple rib pattern and can be worn as a reversible piece.  Everyone who has been begging me for one of these hats is a guy - so I guess you should put it on your list of guy gifts for this season's holidays!

A New Hat For Jordan

contributed by Shawn

I had a very surprising request for a new hat a couple of weeks ago. I offered to make a hat for Jordan long ago but he just wasn't ready to let go of his trusty old watch cap. Jordan lives in his watch cap - those of us who know him hardly recognize him without it.  The old hat has been around for years.  There are frayed ends coming out of it and a hole in one side where a dog got hold of it a while ago.  But there is no replacing something like that until you are really ready to let go so despite intervention attempts, the old hat stayed.   

So I was VERY surprised when he asked me if he was going to get a new hat soon.  He assured me he was ready for a new one.  I struggled for a while on how to create a color combination that would remind him (and everyone else!) of the old hat.  I realized after looking around the shop that I was going to need to combine some different colors to get what I was looking for.  I also wanted something nice and soft but warm that would be comfy to live in.  

After a lot of thought, I decided that a "color fade" project would work the best.  I picked out 3 different colors of the Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool. This soft blend of wool and silk is available in a wonderful range of earthy colored tweeds. Perfect gentleman colors!  I created an appropriate sized watch cap from the measurements available in my Ann Norling Head Huggers pattern and chose a 3x1 ribbing pattern so the hat would be reversible.   

Hat with no brim - remember - this mannequin head is tiny and has no hair!

I lengthened the hat so that it could be worn with the bottom folded up or down.   

Hat with brim rolled up

The color fade was accomplished by knitting with two strands of the DK yarn held together.  For the bottom 1x1 ribbed section I held two strands of the Dark Oak color together.  Then I changed to my 3x1 rib pattern and held one strand of Dark Oak with one strand of Bronzed Green.  After 10-12 rows I switched out colors again and used two strands of Bronzed Green.  After another 10-12 rows I made a transition using one strand of Bronzed Green and one strand of Granite.  I finished off the top of the hat with the decreases and using two strands of Granite together. 

Beautiful color fade

Folks who saw this hat being made loved the colors.  It is quite handsome!  I gave it to Jordan and he was quite taken with it.  He actually took the old hat off and I caught him taking photos of himself in the new one with his phone later in the evening - I don't think he realized anyone saw that!

Girasole - Remember Me?

contributed by Shawn

Back in October Jill posted some photos of my (then) current UFO's. Remember this?

Well, I am happy to report that the Girasole afghan is no longer an unfinished object.

I had run out of yarn and wasn't sure what to use to finish this project. After some deliberation I decided to place a special order for Cascade Eco Wool in a dyed color to finish the pattern up. (Did you know we are happy to do this for you?)

Finished Girasole afghan, laid out on the classroom floor

I've been using this story to illustrate to customers that even we get in a bind every once and while! It's normal to have to make changes to patterns and projects now and again. And to re-knit sections... did you know I re-knit the border of this project 3 times? I kept running out of yarn and I really didn't want to add more yardage to the project so I had to "tink" and adjust until I got it right. 

I finished this with just about a week to spare. I took it to Maine last weekend as a gift, and it was really well received!

Headed to Maine and Packing the Berets

contributed by Shawn 

I'm going to be spending a couple of days visiting folks in Maine.  Since I'll be a house guest for part of my stay I made a couple of gifts for the hosts. Turns out that the snazzy head wear most coveted by these particular Peaks Island residents are berets! 

I hadn't knit a beret style hat before, but armed with an easy free pattern from Plymouth and their lovely Angora yarn I found it wasn't difficult at all.   

For a more manly version, I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca Worsted in black and the same pattern, with a couple of minor adjustments.   

To make the black beret just as cozy as the purple one I turned the hat band inside out, picked up stitches and knit in a liner along the band with the black Plymouth Angora.

I hope these are warm enough for the ferry commute from Peaks Island to Portland!