Another Month of Sundays

The Valentine's Cloth is complete and now it is on to March's selection from KrisKnits.  I plan to knit up several large cloths and smaller cloths.  Lovely patterns and easy too!

As each month progresses, I will be updating this post.  So stay tuned!

Anyone interested in knitting these cloths is welcome to stop by Sunday afternoon at the shop and get started!

Shamrock Cloth Progress

The Shamrocks are starting to magically appear!

Shamrock complete despite some Leprechaun Mischief!
Another Kris Knits charmed pattern!

Now it's on to an Easter themed cloth!

A beautiful lace egg washcloth pattern by Obsidian Kitten

Oh such Hippity, Hoppity Fun!  Enjoyed this lacy knit so much I've made two in short order.  There is plenty of yarn left to make a set of four. Learned some interesting new stitches - a 4 stitch decrease, a 3 stitch cluster and a new way to knit an M1 (make one - a 1 stitch increase).  

After completing this set, it will be on to April's selection in a nod to Arbor Day -  Twining Trees by Sarah Bradberry.  Cables will be the lesson here. As soon as I select the yarn, I will post a picture of the start.

The Easter Set is complete so there was still time to make some more Shamrocks!  I used KrisKnits St. Patrick's Day pattern in the smaller cloth size and they make excellent coasters.  A very quick knit and I should have a set of four ready to use on the big green day!

Enjoyed a wonderful St. Patty's Feast of Corned Beef Brisket and the fixings and still had time to start one last cloth for March.  I chose a spring theme - a butterfly floating over a field of lacy eyelet.  This pattern is by Rachel van Schie and this and other lovely patterns can be found HERE.  You can just see my butterfly starting to take flight - she should be ready to set free at the end of the next 'therapy' session!


My completed Butterfly took flight in the garden!

I will be continuing this monthly series but not on this blog.  You can follow my Month of Sundays on Lori's Frames, Fibers & Frills Forum under the discussion thread titled 'A Month of Sundays (Wash Cloth Therapy).

A Month of Sundays

One month into the New Year I’ve finally decided on a knitting resolution for this year -  knit up at least one themed washcloth a month knitting at Lori’s on Sunday from 2 PM to 4 PM.  So in a month of Sundays, one washcloth is certainly plausible.  I find this kind of knit very relaxing and I love to watch the pattern develop so quickly plus there are so many cute and fun FREE patterns available.  

Kristen Knits is a site I found through Ravelry that is extremely creative.  She offers free patterns and sells some wonderful assortments of cloth set patterns at very reasonable prices.   I will be knitting several of her designs including a mystery Halloween cloth.

Here is my Month of Sundays Schedule and the completed projects pictured which illustrates that anybody can do this!

February: A KrisKnits Valentine Surpise Cloth 

March St. Patrick’s Day (a KrisKnits shamrock pattern) Washcloth & Coaster

KrisKnits Small Shamrock Cloth/Coaster

'Coasting' until the Big Day!

March Easter (a lacy creation by ObsidianKitten)

March Bonus Pattern: Lacy Butterfly Dishcloth by Rachel van Schie 

Butterfly beginning to take flight!

April Arbor Day (a beautiful twining tree pattern)
May (A Field of Flowers KrisKnits Cloth)
June (A Father’s Day KrisKnits)
July 4 (A patriotic knit not yet selected)
August (A Dog Days of Summer Dog Day Print Cloth)
September (An Autumn Equinox Moon & Star Illusion Cloth)
October (KrisKnits Mystery Cloth)
November (Happy Turkey Day Cloth)
December  (A KrisKnits selection)

I welcome company and will keep you posted on each cloth -

Happy Knitting and Crocheting!

Ellen

Swans Island Shop Samples!

Since we last posted  about our beautiful newcomer to the shop - Swans Island Yarn - two shop samples have been completed.  If you are wondering how lovely the Swans Island yarns knit up, you need to come see the shop samples on display.  Lori completed the Anna Cowl in Beetroot.  Jeanne completed the April Mitts in Winterberry.  Both patterns are available for purchase.

Yarn of the Week Sale

Another week has passed and that means another yarn is featured for this weekend through next Friday!  We have chosen all James C. Brett yarns in the store for a 20% discount.  Here is the excerpt from our e-mail flyer listing all the yarns available and color codes.  Click HERE to access the flyer and you will have all the links describing the yarns and view the colors available.  

We hope to see you in the shop!  Remember that you are always welcome to sit a while and knit or crochet on any project.  The weather should be nice enough to sit outside on the patio!

Swans Island Yarn

Lori's has a small selection of the beautiful organic hand-dyed worsted weight Swans Island Yarn.  You can read the Swans Island Yarn story here.  The yarn is absolutely gorgeous especially my personal favorite: Beetroot - a purple tonal yarn.  Four patterns from Swans Island are available as well and three of them only require one skein.  A quick look on Ravelry revealed so many positive remarks about knitting with this yarn.  So drop on by to see and touch for yourself!

New Yarn for the New Year!

Meet two of our newest yarns in the shop!  They are Sateen and Sunseeker by Cascade Yarns.   These are both machine wash and tumble dry making them perfect for baby projects.

Sunseeker is a soft, light & drapey cotton mix (47% cotton/48% acrylic/5% metallic) with a touch of sparkle.  It knits up at 22-24 stitches over 4 inches on US 4/5 needles and has 237 yards for skein.  This would work well for projects requiring DK weight yarn.

Yes, the yellow & white have sparkle too!  A picture does not do them justice - a must see and touch for yourself!

Sateen is a soft, smooth & silky 100% Acrylic DK weight yarn and has a generous 300.7 yards per ball.  Sateen comes in pre-wound center pull balls so they are ready to go when you are!

Coral and Denim Mix

True Blue and Lilac

 

If one of your resolutions this year is to organize that knitting bag, then this little gadget may help you out.  The Needle Keeper allows your circular needles to be securely held together so that project doesn’t slip off in the rumble tumble of your knitting bag.  You can find them on the register counter.

Needle tips are inserted into tube and held securely

Can't wait for everyone to stop on by and show us your projects or allow us to help you start one.  Remember you are always welcome to work on your knitting and crochet here at the shop.  

Happy New Year!

Afghan Anyone?

Maybe one of your New Years resolutions is to knit a large project and the Queen of large projects is one of the shop’s most faithful customers - Nancy.  She has knit a large collection of afghans over the years for family and friends.  She uses yarns from all price points – fine wools to economical acrylics.  Today we are showcasing two of her creations where the recipients requested a wash and dry yarn. 

The ‘Baby Afghan for Beginners’ lovingly handcrafted for her future grandson is knit with Jojoland Tonic (Color AW256).  It is an 85% Acrylic 15% Wool Blend and has a generous 220 yards per skein at $5.00/skein.  Nancy used size 7 needles and 6 skeins of this DK weight yarn which she says has a lovely texture and beautiful sheen.  The pattern can be found for free on Ravelry.  It is knit in one piece and has a tidy garter stitch edge.  An easy knit and as Nancy commented - a good TV knit. 

Another beautiful afghan knit for Nancy’s niece who is engaged to be married Summer of 2013 is the ‘Cable Knit Throw’ (available for free on Ravelry).  She used size 10 needles and Comfort Chunky in Color 5850.  This may appear to be a complicated cabled project but Nancy assures us that it is actually quite easy – there are two cable rows in each 48 row repeat.   This afghan has an integral seed stitch edging (no fringe!)

This would be an ideal project to learn cables – the finished product sure provides a lot of bang for your buck!  

So get your 'Afghan On!' in the New Year - we have great yarns to choose from and are here to help you through your project -

Sunday Knit Group

The Sunday Knitters enjoyed a warmer Sunday than we have had in the last few weeks. Some WIPs were shared and a few finished projects were modeled.

Nancy was wearing her Neck Down Hooded Tunic by Knitting Pure and Simple. Nancy used a variegated Cascade Alpaca. Nancy shared that she really enjoyed knitting this because the instructions were well written making this one of the easiest projects. (Nancy is a prolific knitter and she thought this would suit a newer knitter)

Nancy was also putting the finishing touches on a shawl that she is making up for her mother. The Ethereal Grace Stole is turning out beautifully knitted in the Kollage Creamy yarn. Creamy is made from 80% Milk and 20% Cotton. You have to feel this yarn to believe how soft it is and telling someone that the yarn is made of Milk will make any project a conversational piece.

Jeanne is working on a Rowan Pattern - Nessa using a Felted Tweed doubled. It is working up quickly and Jeanne reports that the yarn she substituted with is working out great. (Finally she is knitting something for herself!)

Lori is modeling the Just Enough Ruffles Scarf she made last Saturday out of just two balls of the Zaol - Lady Cashmere. She made it in one day and the color is so vibrant and stunning against a black sweater. After knitting the scarf Lori used Soak and the scarf softened more and really drapes nicely.

Suzie (that would be me) is going to copy Lori and make a scarf just like it for a gift. Who can't use a ONE DAY project in their arsenal as a backup for a last minute gift?

Stay tuned! We have new products to report on in the next post.......you are going to love the Spring colors that are popping up all over the shop!!