Online Shop Update

We've got lots of new yarn up in our online shop, just in time for fall and winter knitting projects! We've been adding plenty of sock blends to keep you busy making endless pairs of fun and totally unique socks for holiday presents, as well as heavier weight yarns for warm and cozy scarves, hats, mittens, sweaters...

You can sort the yarn by weight (click on "sock weight," "worsted weight," etc. from the menu on the lefthand side of the page) or by material or color, by using the tag cloud in the bottom left corner of the page.

Additionally, each week we have different yarns on sale on our bargain shelf -- be sure to check it out and get a good deal on that yarn you've been eyeing...

Since we know many of you may be stocking up now for holiday knitting, we're pleased to let you know that we are now offering free shipping on all orders over $65!

Here's a taste of a few of the new blends that we've added recently to our fall/winter selection of yarns:

* Rimouski

Soft sage-colored bamboo, grassy green, and a thin brown strand of wool make up this smooth and soft yarn -- we're thinking of cable-knit hats, a quick-knit sweater, or a cozy winter scarf!

* Delson

This gorgeous burgundy yarn will have enough stretch to hold its shape in a fun fall sweater, or with its single strand of tan woven throughout, would make a beautiful cable-knit scarf. Or, if you're more the mitten-and-hat type, a single cone will yield multiple projects for you!

* Beech

This earthy sock yarn is a mellow mixture of tans and greens, giving just a splash of color, but still solid enough to show cables and lace nicely!

* Kola

This beautiful sock blend merges dark purple, burgundy, and a soft off-black in a gorgeous marriage of colors.

* Louiseville

Lavender and light blue pastels combine in this super-soft bamboo and merino yarn.

* Donnaconna

It's rare that we put together a yarn that so blatantly screams "rainbow," but with this one, we just couldn't resist. A playful variegated strand of bamboo is melded with shades of teal, green, and magenta to make this playful yarn.

* Mirabel

This wool/rayon blend combines shades of magenta and pink, and accents it with a very thin, shiny strand of light lavender rayon to make a yarn that is calm enough to knit into a large garment such as a sweater, but interesting enough that it could easily turn into a hat or a pair of cute winter mittens!

Happy browsing!

Fall Sweaters!

Did anyone else bike to work this morning? If you did, you probably noticed that fall was definitely in the air. And you know what that means...

Cozy fall sweaters! This sample, which is hanging up here at the shop, is one of the simplest sweater patterns there is -- knitted all in one piece from the neck down, so you can try it on as you go. It's made from a lightweight alpaca/merino blend, so it uses a mere 9 ounces of yarn for the entire sweater!

We just got in a bunch of beautiful new merino wools for fall, so bring in that pattern you've been eyeing and we'll help you find (or create!) the perfect yarn to match it.

Keep in mind that we don't have patterns for sale here at the shop, so we always recommend Knitty or Ravelry for great free pattern ideas.

Feather and Fan Dress

I like the big projects. Which is why I'm really stoked to finally be finished with my wedding-present-Girasole extravaganza, which took up most of my knitting time this summer, and can finally focus my attention at my newest long-term project, which I'm happily keeping at home in anticipation of cozy fall Netflix nights...

Feather and Fan Dress
from the Spring/Summer 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting

I'm not usually a big magazine-pattern knitter, but I do love the explicit detail with which these patterns are written; tiny print in columns that is so satisfying to cross out with a fine point Sharpie as I conquer each section.

Even though the magnitude and intricacy of this dress looks daunting, it strikes the perfect balance of keeping my interest (lace means having something to look forward to every few rows), and being simple enough that I can bring it with me to a lecture, a movie, or a chatty knit nite at a friend's house and not lose my place (very simple 4-row feather & fan pattern, with basic increases and decreases).

Plus, it's going to be so pretty!!