Boo!

Happy Halloween!

Supportland!

Have you guys heard about Supportland yet?  

It's a super cool new card that you carry around, that lets you earn points every time you frequent many of the vibrant small businesses we have here in Portland.  And as of this week, Yarnia is one of them!

Think rewards program, but without the cheesiness, and the added bonus that whatever points you earn by shopping at Yarnia can also be spent at any of the other shops, restaurants and services around town.

They've got an adorable video on their website that explains it in more detail.

In addition to earning Supportland points every time you buy something, we also have a punch card system built in -- for every $10 you spend at Yarnia, you'll get a punch, and 10 punches means $10 in store credit the next time you come in!

Of course, it's totally free, so the only thing you'll need to do is snag one of the cards next time you come into the shop (we have them right up at the register starting this week), and keep it with you so you can earn and "spend" your points each time you shop local.

Plus, the cards are super cute! 

Intro to Cables Class

How many scarves do you have on your list this year?  If you're like most knitters, the answer is a lot.  How to spice it up when you're trucking through your fourth recipient's 2x2 ribbed monochromatic scarf?

Throw in some cables!

The simple addition of cables can add elegance, complexity, and intrigue to any project -- or can just keep you from going crazy if you're knitting 75 rows of straight stockinette! 

In our Intro to Cables class we'll learn the basics of cabling -- including their properties, how they're made, and some helpful tips about when they're the perfect addition to spice up that project you're making…and when they aren't.

Most importantly, we'll learn how to read those crazy-looking cable charts so you can conquer all the intricate cable projects you've had your eye on! Our class project will be starting a simple cabled scarf, similar to the one shown above.

Visit our Classes Page to get the full scoop on this class and all the others!

Featured Yarn :: Dexter

Dexter

Forest green rayon chenille is paired with a rainbow space dyed rayon to create this soft and playful yarn.

• Fiber Content: 42 rayon / 24 cotton / 21 acrylic-polyester / 13 wool
• Yardage: approx. 300 yards
• Yarn Weight: Worsted
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry

Also available in our online shop!

 

February Lady Sweater

This has been a long time coming, the February Lady Sweater.  I think this was one of the first projects I queued when I joined Ravelry way back when, and it was only this summer that I got around to starting it.

I'm really not one to make a pattern in the same colorway as is advertised in a pattern, and the fact that my FLS turned out shockingly similar to the one you see here is entirely coincidence.

In fact, I first wound up this yarn last winter, with the intention of making a second Owls sweater, but cardigan-ized.  But alas, making a sweater for the second time is never as intriguing as making one brand-new, so it sat on my shelf until the February Lady Sweater again came beckoning, and I discovered that it was already precisely the weight and fiber combination I wanted, already wound-up!  That does explain, though, why the sleeves are just a bit shorter than I would have liked.  

This is pretty much my ideal sweater.  Easy garter stitch for the first good chunk of it, with raglan increases (my fave!) until just above the chest, and then a super easy, 4-row lace pattern that is quickly memorized and continued down along the entire body, and both sleeves, finished off with another few inches of garter stitch to give it some weight.

Sadly, I got carried away and forgot for a couple rows that we're still in garter stitch...

Oh, and after the first three buttonholes, you can relax!  I'm always messing up my buttonhole placement on cardigans; despite my best efforts to translate "every 3 inches" into a row-based formula, I've inevitably abandoned my row counter at this point so it's more like "if I remember to check whether this is a buttonhole row."  Any of you who have tried to squeeze a button into a stitch where there is no hole, know what I'm talking about.

February Lady Sweater

54% bamboo / 32% cotton / 14% merino :: 750 yards

cost of materials: $55.42

Found!

Wow, how awesome is this sunny weather we've been having?!  I'm soaking it up while I can but also knowing that it can only last for so long, I've been dreaming up fun ideas for hats and scarves.  

 Mary Mary scarf via Knitty

You know how sometimes you don't realize how much you love that certain article of clothing until you think you've lost it?  Well, a couple weeks ago I was convinced that I'd left one of my (apparently) favorite scarves at a party, and that it had disappeared.  

This really didn't seem likethe kind of crowd where someone would walk off with a hand-knit scarf, but I was at a loss for an explanation, and suddenly the possibility that I'd lost this wonderfully cozy orange fall scarf was devastating.  

I immediately set to work thinking about how I'd recreate a similar yarn with the fibers we have on hand now, and mentally added "yet another scarf" to my fall queue, which certainly has no room in it at the moment for interlopers.

Wednesday night I ended up back at this same house after work for an impromptu homemade pizza party, and when I retrieved my jacket that I'd left behind last time, lo and behold I discovered my scarf, balled up inside one of the sleeves!  One of those I'll-do-this-so-I-don't-lose-it ideas gone wrong.

So fantastically, I no longer have to re-knit an old scarf.  BUT, the upside to this story is that I have already spent many hours contemplating how to make a fluffy, soft yarn that could quickly whip up into a lacey scarf like this one, if any of YOU want to give it a go.

Want to know what makes it even better?  We're now carrying sportweight NatureSpun wool by Brown Sheep.  This wool is thick, colorful, soft, and totally affordable ($2.13/oz.), and makes it way easy for us to build up to whatever weight you're going for.  If you're starting with this stuff, bulky is no problem.  

So mix it up, keep it solid, blend with other fibers, and try it out in your next fall hat or scarf!

Also available for incorporating into your yarn by using our Custom Yarn Order Form.

Featured Yarn :: Mandheling

Mandheling

A rayon/linen boucle and soft acrylic make up the majority of this yarn, which would knit up into a fantastic lightweight version of the Ingrid Scarf.

• Fiber Content: 59 rayon-linen / 26 cotton / 15 acrylic
• Yardage: ~440 yards
• Yarn Weight: DK
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Hand wash or cold gentle cycle / lay flat to dry

Also available in our online shop!

 

WIP: Juliana in Joliette

I think this officially wins as the most unusual place I've ever blogged from: the top story of the Megabus, en route from NYC to Washington, D.C.  Seriously, since when do buses have Internet?!  

 

I'm on the last leg of my annual east coast trip, visiting some of my closest friends, who all conveniently live within easy train and bus rides from each other.  This annual excursion back east is usually centered around the wooly wonder of Rhinebeck, but this year since I had to make it a quick jaunt, we stuck around the city and got to do fun city things like going to shows, checking out Brooklyn Flea, and knitting in Prospect Park.

I'm working on my Juliana wrap, which is perfect for traveling.  Knitted in sportweight, it's taking awhile to complete this first section, which is 26" long, but an easy rectangle with no shaping, only a simple 8-row lace pattern to contend with.  Perfect for short little spurts on the subway or distracted chatting in front of the river.

As cool as this pattern looks on its own, it will actually soon be much lacier.  After finishing this section, I get to drop all the drop-stitches and watch them unravel, which always feels a little rebellious.

I'm using our Joliette sportweight yarn -- a cotton/merino blend with a stand of turquoise lurex, which gives it a little sparkle.  It's going to be soft and lightweight, perfect for some winter layering, I think.  (I'm not so into thinking of this, as the Berroco website claims, as a scarf with sleeves -- I much prefer it as a wrap!)

BSJ Pattern Now Available!

You know I love a good Baby Surprise Jacket.  I have recently become obsessed with this quick little knit, and if more of my friends don't start having babies quick, I'm going to start to accumulate quite a glut of these little guys.

Though for now, one of them is now living at the store, to show off how wonderfully a three-ply bamboo/cotton blend can transform into the cutest little baby jacket you've ever seen.  The reason for this is that, as of this weekend, we've just started carrying the pattern here at the store, so now you can come on in and try it for yourself!

If you want to try it out in the same yarn blend we did, all you'll need is 9 oz. of yarn (that's total -- I've been enjoying mixing it up with 5 oz. of one color, and 2 oz. each of the contrasting colors), which in this luxurious bamboo blend comes out to a mere $25.

The pattern, though it's amazingly simple, can be a little vague at parts, so don't hesitate to ask if you get stuck.  In fact, if enough of you are interested, we'll even put together a class to work through the pattern together. 

Featured Yarn :: Colombian

Colombian

A soft black mohair, heathered with hints of burgundy, is paired with a tweedy purple cotton and some more wool for warmth and wonderful loft.  Try it in the Mohair Splash Shrug pattern!

• Fiber Content: 48 mohair blend / 30 cotton / 22 wool
• Yardage: 440 yards
• Yarn Weight: DK
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.

Also available in our online shop!

 

Okay, NOW it's fall.

How did you guys like the inch and a half of rainfall that we got this weekend?  I loved it.  Well, except for my basement flooding (boo), but before I found out about that mess, I was out enjoying a true autumn party, ringing in 10.10.10 with a bang (splash?).  

I knew this crowd would be really stepping it up with the cuisine, so I decided my contribution would have to be none other than a fresh baked heirloom apple pie, with -- believe it or not -- my first apples of the season! 

Lucky for us, the rain gave it a rest until about 2 a.m. when it started up again and drove everyone inside, abandoning s'mores by the bonfire in favor of scavenging the last of the night's refreshments from bowls and pans and plates.  It's been a rough couple of weeks for me, but the medicinal value of fall seems to be starting to kick in.

Which also may explain why I'm feeling more inspired to sit down and tackle this big monster that's been piling up squares on my office table for close to a year now.

It's been a long time coming, but we're in the home stretch, people.  Four squares to go..and then a lot of finishing work.

I forgot how many different elements go into a gargantuan project like a 9x9 panel blanket.  Once you get to a certain point (like around 30 squares) there are so many elements going on that my whole coffee table ends up being devoted to just organizing this project. 

First, there's THE MAP.

Then there are color guides.  I get really persnickety about too many colors touching -- it should be like those maps you had to color in, back in sixth grade.  So there are lots of messy charts written on the backs of my junk mail that help me keep track of which squares are using which color combos.  (Also good for ensuring you use up your different colors at a relatively even pace.)

And then of course there are the squares themselves.  And a lot of trust that when it comes time to line them up on my living room floor and make a life-size version of my map, they'll be the same squares that I planned out and crocheted up eight months ago!

Super Fall Sale Next Week!

That's right, it's fall project time!  And we're going to help you get started.

Next week, October 13 to 17, we'll be having a huge sale here at Yarnia to kick off the fall and winter knitting seasons.  During this week you'll get to enjoy:

• 10% off ALL premade cones in the store 
• 25% off all Bargain Basket yarns  
• $5 gift certificate for any custom yarn purchase over $50*

*Limit 1 per person; must be used after sale ends on October 17th.

Want to browse some of our premade yarns online before you come in and decide?  Our online shop has a sampling of all the great "house blends" that we have in stock (many more in-store, too!).

Need some inspiration for what to make with all this great yarn?  Here are some great resources to get you started:

• We have a bunch of great patterns for sale over at Stitch Cooperative
• The new edition of Knitty is out -- Deep Fall!
• The one, the only, Ravelry
• Our New Arrivals page, where we have pattern suggestions for what to make with the new fibers we have in stock
• Our shop samples, whose patterns are all available either in our pattern book, or free online

So come on in with your patterns, projects, ideas, and creativity, and we'll take care of the rest!

~ Fall Sale Dates ~

Wednesday, October 13 through Sunday, October 17

Featured Yarn :: Florence

Florence

Deep navy and black are combined in this worsted weight blend of bamboo and wool, with a thin strand of shiny blue lurex to give this yarn a sophisticated sparkle.  I think this would look spectacular in the Hourglass Sweater.

• Fiber Content: 56 wool / 30 bamboo / 8 merino / 5 lurex
• Yardage: ~320 yards
• Yarn Weight: Worsted
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.

Also available in our online shop!

 

Brattleboro Hat

Are you in fall hat mode yet?  If you've done the basic ribbed hat, or rolled-brim beanie, and want to try something just a teensy bit more involved, go find yourself a copy of the Fall 2010 Interweave Knits and open up to the Brattleboro Hat.

Brattleboro Hat

Wool/cotton blend :: 215 yards

Cost of materials: $11.70

This hat begins at the brim, just a short strip of ribbing that feels like you're making a dapper little scarf for a mouse -- short little rows, back and forth, until your strip is a length equal to the circumference of your head.

This strip suddenly becomes the brim of the hat, as you turn it sideways and pick up stitches around the edge with your circular needle, and now suddenly you're knitting in the round, in a way that feels familiar.

The other wonderful little touch to this hat is the entire rest of it, including the crown, is knit in moss stitch.  This is similar to seed stitch (where you alternate knit one/purl one all the way through the round, but offset that pattern by one stitch each round so that the ribs don't line up).

The only difference between these two stitches is that you only offset this potential rib every other round, giving the fabric a cool, patterned texture -- especially if you're using a colorful variegated yarn like I was!

Knitted in worsted weight yarn, this hat is fantastically quick, and looks more sophisticated than the skills required.  Plus, I love that the ribbed band around the brim keeps the hat nice and snug, much more so than your basic ribbed cap.  Cover those ears!

Knitty, you just made my week!

All right people, the newest issue of Knitty is out (They've now divided the fall issue into two editions -- "first fall" and "deep fall.")

Though yesterday was I think the nicest day we've had since early June here in Portland, apparently we're already into Deep Fall -- get those sweaters on the needles!!

I am so excited about over half of the patterns in this issue, I don't even know where to start.

Photo via Knitty website
Beatnik

This is the greatest sweater to cross my path since the Mariah back in '04.  I only wish that I looked good in pullovers, but after years of tirelessly knitting them I've finally thrown in the towel and accepted that I am a cardigan-only girl.  But this is going to look fantastic on someone, I'm sure of it.

Photo via Knitty website
Ringwood Gloves

Ooh, and I'm just picturing these gloves in a soft tweedy blend like Acorn.  In fact, they totally look like the Brattleboro Hat I just finished, what with the seed stitch and cute little buttons...is this a thing now?  I'm into it.

Photo via Knitty website
Rebecca

And there's nothing like a nice solid cabled hat for the fall.  I'm not personally so into the contrasting color flower on top, but this would be very simple to modify if you feel the same way -- just keep on going in your original color, without switching until you get to the brim.  

If you've always wondered about how to add cables to a hat, this is a great walk-through of how to keep the cables aligned while also wrangling the increases of a crown-down hat.

What are you all excited about knitting from this issue?