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Summer Fun: Try Amigurumi!

Summer Fun: Try Amigurumi!

These are just a few quick Amigurumi I put

together to take to Maker Faire, and they sure
were popular.    Kids loved ’em!  These are
crocheted, but you can knit the little critters too.
 I’m no crochet expert, so I was astounded at
how easy these cuties were to make.  I made
these using Bomull Sport Cotton; it’s easy to
work, has beautiful colors and is very affordable.
 There are thousands of free patterns for
Amigurumi on the internet, but we also have a
knit and crochet, that have detailed instructions
and outstanding design.
Adorable Amigurumi

2012 Amigurumi Calendar

Amigurumi Knits       Crobots             Kyutto!

So give it a try — I bet you’ll love it!
New for Spring: Versa !

New for Spring: Versa !

Versa
 And then there’s Versa   another very different yarn.  This yarn is two tapes, each variegated, then joined together for an incredible color statement.  The colors are vivid and yet when they’re knit, there’s the overall visual effect of very subtle changes.

One technique that would be fantastic for this yarn is Hairpin Lace (many Stitch Diva Patterns).  Of course most tape yarns are good for this, but the colors of Versa are spectacular.  You can see our patterns for Hairpin Lace here.  This yarn will also be great for crochet, because the color constantly changes.

Versa — You will love it and the style book too!

Quick Tip: Non-Stretchy Yarns

Quick Tip: Non-Stretchy Yarns

Lots of knitters walk away from yarns that are constructed from natural vegetable fibers and other inelastic fibers, because it’s harder to get an even look to the knitting.  This is such a shame, because these yarns are lovely to look at and wear.  One problem that most of us have is that our knit stitches and purl stitches are not exactly the same size (gauge), and this is true whether you throw (English) or pick (Continental).  For a quick fix you can 1) convert to knitting in the round, or if that isn’t practical, 2) try using a different size needle for the knit side and purl side. Also, don’t put down the work in the middle of the row, and if you are creating cables, use a cable or dp needle at least 2 sizes smaller to avoid stretching those stitches out of shape.  Finally it is most important to knit, launder and block your gauge swatch using the same methods you intend to use on the garment.
New for Sock Knitters

New for Sock Knitters

 New for Sock Knitters:

Regia Garden Effects

Regia Design Line Garden Effects  by Kristin Nicholas!  Six great colorways guaranteed to remind you of the wonderful gardens to come this summer.  What fun!  These newly designed colorways were a great favorite at Stitches West, and since then also with our customers.  So give it a whirl!

Stitches West update

Stitches West update

We got here safely Tues and were able to start setting up first thing Wednesday.  We usually complain about being stuck in the back of the market floor, but since we are very close to the loading dock it made things easier.  For this show we bought a lot of new display hardware, and we’re really grateful that our son Evan and his friend Tina were there to help us figure it out for the first time.

We had been told that this was the biggest Stitches show, and everything we had heard was correct.  It’s true, and if you are anywhere west of the Rockies you absolutely MUST go to this show.

Best sellers Thursday evening and today:  Super 10 Cotton (that’s no big surprise), Trendsetter Bodega novelty yarn, Improv, and KA exchangeable needle sets.  But we have sold some of just about everything.  Tonight was the fashion show; we have 5 garments.  We’ll see if they create some excitement for tomorrow!!

Another update plus pics coming

On the road again….

On the road again….

Stitches West Ho!!

We left Sunday about noon from Jackson, and wouldn’t you know it? We had a spectacular animal encounter almost immediately.  This is what we saw about 25 miles south of home:

Mountain Goats

 

These mountain goats are always a welcome sight.  They’re very impressive animals, very calm and very big.

They’re also cute– see the face on the juvenile in the photo on the right?

 

 

 

 

Anyway, we had off and on snow until we got to Salt Lake, but managed to make it across the salt flats to Wendover before stopping for the night.  The entire trip has been filled with gorgeous scenery.

Yesterday, we drove to  Sparks NV, where we picked up some new display for our booths.  On a whim, I checked the customer list and found we have one customer in Sparks!  So we decided to do our best imitation of Publisher’s Clearinghouse, and we showed up on the doorstep of Mary F., and presented her with a little gift!  You should have seen the look on her face.  It was fun.

So we have made it here to Santa Clara a little while ago, and checked into the hotel, and are anticipating getting a good start on the set-up tomorrow.  It was an easy drive broken into 3 days.  Stay tuned for more updates from Stitches West!

 

Yet-to-be-appreciated Yarns, Part 2

Yet-to-be-appreciated Yarns, Part 2

Some great but yet-to-be-appreciated yarns
This season there have been a lot of changes in the yarns available for knitters. There have been a lot of yarns discontinued, and a lot of new introductions.  In times of economic uncertainty, it’s no surprise that crocheters and knitters return to their favorites.  But there are some that I have tried, and deserve a closer look.

Aiko Garments

Lang Aiko

Mohair is coming back into style, but not the ultra big fuzz-ball look.  What is important now is a light halo and a soft hand.  Enter Aiko.  This yarn is incredibly soft, but it takes up a lot of space.  The yarn itself it made up from a tiny boucle of the fibers stitched into a small tape.  When it is knit, there isn’t a lot of surface halo (fuzz), but it knits to a bigger gauge than it looks.  The Aiko styles in the Lang books are mostly used for snuggly knits, but I think it would also make a great yarn for openwork styles–a lacy scarf or wrap would be very sophisticated in this yarn.

Color, Color, Color!

Color, Color, Color!

Make a gigantic impact with Color

Regia Journal Color Effects
Fassett’s Patchwork Designs

It’s easier than ever before with Regia’s Design Line by Kaffe Fassett

Color Effects

Rowan’s Master Colorist, Kaffe Fassett, has created beautiful combinations for Regia Yarns.  Those of us familiar with his work can spot a Fassett design a mile away, and love them all.  But of course the knitting patterns were so daunting–combinations of fair isle and intarsia, with complex color changes using often dozens of colors and yarns in one project!

Now Fassett revisits some of his favorite shapes and patterns using combinations of these variegated yarns with each other and solids.   Get fabulous results with simplified technique!

The great color combinations
of Regia Design Line

Regia Design Line
Kaffe Fassett’s colorways
Yet-to-be-appreciated Yarns, Part 1

Yet-to-be-appreciated Yarns, Part 1

Some great but yet-to-be-appreciated yarns
This season there have been a lot of changes in the yarns available for knitters. There have been a lot of yarns discontinued, and a lot of new introductions.  In times of economic uncertainty, it’s no surprise that crocheters and knitters return to their favorites.  But there are some that I have tried, and deserve a closer look.

Lang Donegal     

Lang Donegal

Tweed is a trend, and this yarn is much more than a rehashed version of other tweeds.  Donegal has a DK gauge, but it is thick and thin (sometimes very thin).  If you are an intermediate knitter who hasn’t worked with thick and thin yarns, you will have to pay attention.  Donegal fulls on blocking, meaning that what looks like holes as you knit will fill in more solidly after blocking.  This quality makes Donegal an interesting choice for crochet, too!  A big plus–This is a yarn that is a man magnet!  I have a pullover OTN for John, and when our two sons were home for Christmas they both immediately snatched it up saying “this is nice!” (and they live in CA & AZ–not sweater country)  Just be sure to stick to the darker, neutral colors.  After showing off the patterns in the Lang Vintage book, they were all judged to be winners by my houseful of men.  The 50g skein has over 200 yards, so it goes a long way.