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

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.

Not so fond...

I've been doing a lot of sweater knitting, but everyone needs some FO gratification now and again. So here is the Opus Spicatum hat that I just finished. It was a UFO for a while, but I just finished it recently. I like the hat, but I'm not terribly pleased by the way the green in the variegated runs into the solid and obscures the pattern. I used Berroco Ultra Alpaca as the solid and Mountain Colors River Twist as the variegated. Next time I think I would use 2 different colors of double stranded Road to China Light.

The pattern is free from Kelbourne Woolens and there are great photos of the pattern here.

Customer Projects

First up - a followup to Polly's blog post about a great, mindless project. Check out her completed Half Crepe Shawl:It is beautiful, and looks amazing on her! I just love the color she chose.

The other day we got an email from a customer of ours, Karen R. in the Dark Pastel Multi. She included some nice photos of a sweater made from one of the self striping/patterning Plymouth Encore Colorspun. Not everyone can visualize what these look like when they are knit up, so we wanted to share this with everyone. Karen wrote:

Hi!

I had recently purchased a skein of Plymouth yarn from you to finish the baby sweater I had started. I’m sending pix of the whole project. The pattern is ‘Lillie’s Little Sweater’ from Cottage Creations, someplace in Iowa. It’s a great pattern and this is the third time I’ve made it – all three with Plymouth yarn, though I did my own variations. The last pix shows the sox I made before I even started the sweater – which of course is the reason I ran out of yarn for the sweater. The dye lot is different but it really only shows if you’re looking for it – and if you’re that fussy we’re probably not friends anyway :) Thanks for your help. If I’m ever in Essex Junction…

Karen R.

We thought her sweater was so cute, that we're planning to order the pattern to sell here at the shop. And for all you Wonderful Wallabee fans, stay tuned. That, and a few others are coming too! Thanks for sharing Karen, and for giving us the chance to add to our pattern offering!

Cross Country Project

Polly asked last week if she could share some thoughts on her latest project with our blog readers. I was thrilled! So here it is... in her own words!

Recently I was anticipating a cross country road trip from Prescott, Arizona to Vermont with my daughter and wanted a fun, but no-brainer project for the car. Besides all the cool stuff to watch out the window, we had audio books and Cd's to entertain us and I didn't want to have to think very hard about my knitting. So, I bumped my Half Crepe Triangular Shawl project to the front of the queue.

It uses the Mountain Colors Half Crepe yarn which I chose in the color Lupine. The pattern is easy as pie (and free!) and it's turning out beautifully! On a 32" US size 8 circular needle you begin by casting on 3 stitches. Then EVERY row you simply K2, YO, knit to the end of the row until the shawl is as long as you want it, then bind off. How's that for easy?

Not only was it a great project for the car, it's great for sitting and talking with friends or watching TV or a movie. It's almost like the shawl is knitting itself! I must be almost a third of the way done and I just started last month so at this rate I'll have it done just when we finally go into spring in Vermont and need a light layer.

Have to say, I'm looking forward to when my chosen color of Blue Sky Alpaca Worsted comes in to the shop so I can begin my Blue Sky Alpaca Pleated Vest. Definitely feeling the need for an alternate project that asks a wee more of my brain power!

Thanks Polly. Keep us posted!

Best Picks

Here's a re-cap of the best picks for the past few weeks!

Best Picks Patterns:
* Fiber Trends Snowboarder Hats for Everyone (AC91) is a quick and fun knit! We knit our sample of this hat in less than 3 hours. Once we put the photo up on the web, we couldn't keep the pattern in stock (don't worry, we have it now!) The hat uses Lamb's Pride Bulky and Mille Colori Big, and would make a great holiday gift. The pattern is for adults, but it includes alterations for smaller heads.

* Norah Gaughan for Men is a collection of stunning patterns for men, in gorgeous colors of Berroco yarns. Our customers are snatching up these books at a record rate because it isn't easy to find such great colors and designs for the guys on your knit wear list.

Best Pick Accessories:
* Lantern Moon Rice Baskets are hot! We like these so much that we always fill them with yarn and use them as displays in the shop! But, they are really great project baskets and wonderful display pieces for your home. An added bonus? They come from Lantern Moon, a women's artist cooperative in Vietnam.

Best Pick Yarns:
* Lang Mille Colori Big is a sumptuously soft, variegated, machine washable yarn that comes in a huge 207 yard skein. One skein will make a bulky scarf (pattern included on the label), or grab a Lamb's Pride Bulky and make the Snowboarder Hat (above.)

* Berroco Sundae is another bulky yarn that's become a new favorite. Barb recently knit up a Super Bulky Button Hat in this yarn and it is gorgeous. We've always used Malabrigo Chunky for this hat, but it's such a great pattern, it's super to see it worked up in different yarn choices like the Sundae.

Best Picks Projects:
* The Simple Scarf made with Tilli Tomas Angel is just that... simple! But the yarn is so decadent. One skein knits up to create a gorgeous length of warm and fuzzy beaded goodness! The scarf pattern is included with the yarn purchase. We don't have this one photographed yet, but come in and check it out!

* The Half Crepe Shawl has been in the front hallway for a couple of weeks and continues to draw "oohs" and "aahs" from our customers. It is knit from a single skein of the Mountain Colors Half Crepe yarn. It's a great beginner project and a free pattern comes with the purchase of each skein. The shawl hugs your shoulders and doesn't slip because of the unique construction of the yarn... it's slightly elastic when knit! Check this one out in person, too if you have a chance.

Camp prep

Back from TNNA! What a great trip. I'll be posting about that soon! The weather in Columbus was just gorgeous. It's usually really hot and humid with thunderstorms and major downpours. This year was a treat with temps in the 70s, sun and a lovely breeze.

Back in Vermont, however, the weather forecast isn't looking quite as nice. Today is a bit damp and chilly so I'm thankful for our new Half-Crepe Triangular Shawl sample, knit with Mountain Colors Wool Crepe Halves. It keeps my shoulders warm and I can see it's going to be my go-to piece when the chill of the A/C starts to bother me this summer. (You should make one! Easy, quick, and the weight is perfect!)

So we've got our first ever Kyarns kids' knitting camp coming up in less than a month (still a few spots left!) We're putting together the daily schedule and buttoning up all the details for the week. We are so excited! It's really going to be a lot of fun for those lucky kids! (Why didn't they have this when I was a kid!?)

I'm putting together the master swatch notebook, and I'm about halfway through. I'm using the Berroco Vintage Wool because you know I love it! I picked some super bright colors - remember, we're dealing with kids, and these colors are WAY more appealing than they might be to you and I!We have kids of all different abilities coming to the camp, and as I've learned from the rec department after school knitting program I did with Suzie this past year, it's good to have lots of options for all the kids. We're focused on teaching them skills that they can use once they've left the camp, so the knitting time will really be swatching time. They'll learn how to read charts and how to read their knitting. (I know some grown ups who would benefit from this exercise!!) Kids who are beginner knitters can start at the beginning of the swatch book, and kids with experience can start in the middle, or beyond!

If you think about it, making a swatch 10 stitches wide by 10-12 rows high seems very basic. But pair it up with chart reading, and lots of casting on, binding off & weaving in ends, comparing it to other swatches to learn about gauge, and these kids will be really skilled at many techniques at the end of the week.

There are hands on non-knitting (but fiber related - of course!) activities each day. And here's an example of a felted flower that they will be making: Gorgeous! Shawn made this one, and now I want to do it!

Blankets and throws

Many people have been worrying out loud about the cost of heating their homes this winter. We know there will be an increase in blanket, throw and afghan knitting this fall, in fact we've already seen signs of that. Most folks are wanting to knit something simple and warm, and in many cases, portable.

There are quite a few knitting patterns for afghans that are made in pieces. A brand new afghan booklet for fall - Manos del Uruguay Geometry - is a prime example. When Barb and I went to the TNNA show this past June, we saw all of these afghans knit up, and it was one of the things I was MOST excited about. We waited ALL summer to get the books, though I did manage to get a pre-copy of one of the patterns, so I could get started on a shop sample. This is the Adventure Throw, straight from the pattern booklet, done in shades of blues, teals and greens.I chose to use 12 less similar colors of the Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica, and it's going to be NICE!!!

I started knitting my Adventure Throw in the middle of the summer. Since it's really for the shop, I am actually only knitting half of the throw - it's enough to give folks an idea of what it will look like when it's twice as big. I'm on square 5 of 6 (the whole throw has 12). Here there are this morning, unblocked.

Then I blocked them - huge difference, isn't there? The pattern says to sew the pieces together and then to block the whole throw. Remember, in any pattern, you need to count on your own knowledge and expertise. The pieces of this throw alternate... half of them are in stockinette and garter, and the other half are in garter and some yarn-overs. Even though I am doing them all on size 9 Addi Turbo Knitting Needles, the pieces with the yarn-overs end up a bit bigger than the ones in garter/stockinette. So I chose to block them all to the same size BEFORE seaming them. Again, my choice, and I believe, a good one.

Here they are drying. They already look so much better!

In truth, I like the pieces in garter/stockinette better. If I were to do this afghan again, I would probably eliminate the ones with yarn-overs, and just do these in different colors. That's the great thing about the Manos del Uruguay Geometry pattern booklet. You can mix and match all of the different octagons and squares and come up with one all your own!

Suzie is doing just that. She's started working on the Moonstone (my favorite in this book!)and she's using Berroco Ultra Alpaca and Mountain Colors River Twist. She may decide to throw in some other yarns too. I can't wait to see it!

A few more projects completed

So the hat and mittens are finished! And they are very simple - and perfect for someone who hasn't tried mittens before. As you can see, the River Twist looks very different when used with Ultra Alpaca. (The swatch in the center is River Twist by itself.) I'm glad I chose to add the Ultra Alpaca - I think it softens the River Twist in a good way - just the right amount. Michele came in today wearing her Latitude tank top in Linen Jeans (Book #270.) It's SO cute. She did alter the neck a bit - it called for the purl side (reverse stockinette) to show, but she didn't like it that way, so she flipped it over and made the stockinette side show. Good choice! It's adorable - and so flattering. Here she is modelling it for you, while pulling notions and patterns this morning...
Barb had a nice weekend at her camp - and started and finished the flared ribbed scarf out of King George. Suzie made one in off-white late last spring, and because it wasn't really scarf weather at the time, she left it in the shop as a sample. But we were looking around at samples the other day, and picking out some new things to be knit up, and we realized that Suzie is bound to come in and claim that scarf at some point. Since it is such an easy and cute scarf, and a GREAT use of King George, we decided to make it in another color. Ta-da! It's a gorgeous scarf, and Barb just loved knitting with the yarn.

I got my rain barrel installed before our ugly day of rain yesterday. We had so much that the 55 gallon barrel had filled up between midnight Saturday and 11am Sunday. Then it poured out of the overflow tube, and right on down the driveway for the rest of the day.Then it continued to POUR until about 7:30am, then we had drizzle for 20 minutes, followed by another several hours of a heavy downpour. Needless to say, none of the plants on my deck need to be watered, and neither does my garden... So I don't quite have a use for the water I collected. And there's a lot more rain predicted for the next week. Any ideas?

Helen and Sophie had a little art show after their camp last week. It was really cute - they did so many different things, and had the best time. One of the highlights of the summer camp experience for sure. Here is Sophie with her stuff...

and Helen...Now they have some cool artwork to hang in their rooms. Speaking of their rooms, this is what happens in their rooms when they forget to close their doors each day. The cats LOVE sleeping in their beds, especially in Sophie's. Here's Maisy on a doll blanket:and Lucy, right on the pillow. YUK! I'm tired of changing the pillowcase every day! But she does look like she's made good friends with the AGD...

River Twist and a completed baby sweater

So Sunday was a total washout here. It was cloudy, super windy, and boy did we have a lot of rain. Too bad my rain barrel wasn't yet installed - I just picked it up today. Isn't it cool? I'm off tomorrow and will work to install it. While it may not have been good weather for outside activities, it was perfect for knitting! I completed the little sweater and booties out of Love It Colors. It is so adorable! Kalen couldn't believe how much better it looked it real life than it did in the pattern. She's already bought some Comfort DK in a fun variegated color and started one. One comment about pattern photos... we all know that EVERYTHING looks better in person than it does in a picture. But sometimes the pictures that pattern designers choose to put on patterns are just dog-ugly! If you are trying to sell something with a picture, wouldn't you take several pictures and be sure you ended up with the best one? I know I would. Anyway, I digress. But thank goodness we take the time to knit up some of these patterns - to show how adorable they really are!

Last week we got our shipment of Mountain Colors River Twist. Now this is a new yarn, and frankly, I don't even remember ordering it. I must have ordered it with my rep AGES ago. As in at least 3-4 months? So of course, I forgot it was coming. We haven't really done much with Mountain Colors recently because of how long it takes to get the yarn (3-4 months). I had heard that the wait was less, but it sort of seems like it's the same amount of time. So the jury's out on the wait time...

But let's talk about the yarn, shall we? The yarn ROCKS. It is gorgeous. Lovely to knit with. As soon as I finished my baby sweater and booties, I cast on for a hat and pair of mittens (a Knitting Pure & Simple pattern). The yardage on the River Twist is 240, so a bit short for this pattern, which calls for 250 yards for the set. So I pulled out a skein of one of my other favorite yarns... Berroco Ultra Alpaca. The colors work beautifully together - and on the hat I am working 1 row of each - so they really blend well.