FO :: A-Line Dress

This one has been a long time coming.  I cast on for this one last year in July, and brought it with me on car rides and to festivals all summer long.  Understandably -- knitted in a sport weight yarn, the cast-on for this dress is at the very bottom of the skirt, before all the decreases happen, at a whopping 288 stitches.

The decreases happen slowly, only every 15 rounds or so.  Fortunately, these rounds are kept just interesting enough, with a simple lace pattern, the number of stitches between each lace section decreasing slowly to create the skirt pleats.

Finally, just when you think you can't take another inch of this endless skirt pattern (and you're thinking to yourself, is my waist really that small?  Am I going to have to rip this all out??), come the rows of lace that separate the skirt from the bodice.

From here on out, the rest of the dress comes together in a flash.  Angular decreases create these cute little cap sleeves, which are wrapped around and seamed together at an angle, stitches are picked up around the neckline to give it a nice finished border, and voila, you're done!

Ready to tackle that first dress?  If you've got the stamina, I'd highly recommend this one.  It's shockingly simple, gorgeous, and yes, totally comfortable!  It looks like it should be a sundress, but I myself wore it to Thanksgiving dinner last year.

A-Line Dress
40% bamboo / 31% cotton / 24% polyester / 5% acrylic

1240 yards

Cost of Materials: $55.35

The Sweater Curse

Okay, let's talk about this.  We all know about The Sweater Curse, right?



As ridiculous as it sounds, let's face the facts.  It's true.  It's happened to me, it's happened to you...it's happened to the best of us, though we all think we're the exceptions to the rule.


Well, be warned, friends, because apparently this curse applies to blankets, too.


This blanket began its life in December 2009, when my boyfriend at the time casually remarked, after hearing my exhilarated recount of a Granny Square class I had just come from teaching, that "a granny square blanket would be cool."  


Although, he clarified, he didn't want a granny square blanket...he wanted a grandpa square blanket.  I complied.

I took this as a serious request, and immediately wound up six different semi-solid cones of a merino-bamboo-cotton blend, pulled out my trusty Granny Square Bible, and went to work. 

Over the course of that next year, as we both realized what an undertaking this blanket had turned into (we're talking a 9x9 panel of granny squares.  I'll do the math for you.  It's 81), this project morphed into something of a trade.  You see, that spring, during the kind of brainstorming session only possible when you're in the midst of a five-week cleanse, the two of us hatched an idea.  It was called CustomYarn.com -- maybe you've heard of it?

This, however, was no small feat.  I mean, I'm pretty damn good at websites...for someone who doesn't do websites for a living.  But his developer's prowess and elegant coding was definitely required to make this crazy idea in my head turn into something functional.  


Suddenly we were both engaged in working on these these two mega-long-term projects for each other.  Sometimes we'd even have "work nights," where we'd make dinner and then spend the evening cranking out small bits of the puzzle.  It felt like a fantastic trade.

Until, alas, that next fall, our relationship ended.  And neither of these two projects were complete.


This was a touchy subject, one of the first few times we tried hanging out after the breakup...what to do about this website, that I had already mentally planned a soft launch date for, right before the holidays?  Can I pay him to finish it now?  Is that weird?  Fortunately for me, he was totally awesome, and assured me that of course, he would finish it, no charge.  "I do want that blanket though," he added.


Guys, do you know how long it takes to weave in the ends of 81 granny squares?  Forever.

If you came into the shop anytime between September 2010 and July 2011, chances are you watched me weaving these ends in while you alchemied your favorite yarn together.  Or Knit & Crochet night?  Yup, there too.  At Horse Brass on a Friday night?  You know it.

Of course, once all the ends have been woven in, it's time to pull out the map from way back when, lay the squares out, crochet them together...and then weave in all the newly formed ends.

Yes, it was a doosey.  But really, I shouldn't complain -- I delivered on my promise a full 14 months after he did, and I very much appreciate the patience.  Because two weeks ago, we had dinner together -- the last time I'll see him for awhile as he sets off this weekend for a new phase of his life in St. Louis -- and I finally presented him with this.

Moral of the story: he wants a blanket?  Start with some super-chunky, and one of these.

Featured Yarn :: Fitzgerald's

Fitzgerald's

This lovely sportweight yarn is comprised of a strand each of grey wool, black rayon boucle, a thin dark green rayon, and merino wool.

• Fiber Content: 41 rayon / 28 wool / 18 cotton / 12 merino
• Yardage: 500 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sport
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry 
• Pattern Suggestions: Calm Cowl

Also available in our online shop!

2012 Yarn of the Year Contest

You heard that right, it's that time of the year already!  Much more info coming soon about our Four Year Anniversary Party coming up next month, but before we get ahead of ourselves, we wanted to give you a little heads up about one of our biggest contests of the year, so you can plan ahead and get yer swatches ready!

 * * * * * * * * * * 

Yarn-of-the-Year Contest

What's your favorite Yarnia blend that you've made over the past year? It just might be our favorite, too! During our four-year anniversary party on Friday, February 10, we'll be accepting entries for Yarn of the Year.

Got a little bit of that favorite blend left over? Knit or crochet up a little swatch and bring it in! If your yarn is chosen as our Yarn of the Year, we'll carry it here in the shop as a premade blend (or as close a match as we can, given the fibers on hand), and not only will you get to name it, but you'll also win a $30 Yarnia gift certificate!

Don't have any yarn left over that's calling to you? You can come into the shop and make up a blend anytime up until the evening of the party itself, to submit for consideration. Who knows? Your next custom blend just might be the winner!

Official Rules: All entries must be submitted in person on the evening of Friday, February 10, and must be in swatch form, at least 10 stitches (or chains) by 10 rows in size. Knowing the fiber content is useful, but not necessary. However, there will be room on the entry form to suggest projects that would show off the best of your yarn, so come with a few ideas! The winner will be contacted by the end of the following week, and announced both on the blog, and in next month's newsletter.


Entries will be judged based on versatility, creativity, novelty, and personal taste of the judges

Back to Business

With this week's ridiculous weather events (any official word on how many inches of rain accumulated yesterday?!), from Tuesday night's token blanket of snow to Amtrak cancelling all Seattle/Portland service and thus the annual Seattle-to-Portland Yarn Train (boo!), I'll admit to the ridiculousness of what's on my needles right now: exclusively skirts.

Also, my meat overdose from Christmas break in Wisconsin has led to a month-long stint of vegetarianism, as the protein I've been craving like none other is beans.  Both of these developments make my body feel like it's summer, even though it is, most decidedly, not.

Recipe at Six Dollars A Day

But I may be on to something here, because even though we're smack in the middle of Portland Hibernation Season, I've been surprisingly energized this week, full of new ideas and exciting ventures for the coming year.  


Between getting together with other LYS owners to plan the upcoming 2012 Yarn Crawl (sorry, no link yet, but oh you just wait...official info coming very soon, and boy, do we have an epic weekend in store for you!), and meeting with all the rad Supportland folks on Wednesday night to plan out all the fun promotions, contests, and events we'll be collaborating on in the coming year, I'm feeling more honored and excited than ever to be a business owner in this unique city that truly is thriving with so much dedication to the concept of local, and so many creative entrepreneurs.


I feel like I have an overwhelming weekend of work ahead of me, still trying to catch up on my to-do lists from the holidays, while simultaneously trying to launch a dozen different projects that I've had steeping in my head for months.  But it's one of those weekends that I totally covet, coming to work and putting on a full pot of coffee, and getting down and dirty with my laptop in back while Angela takes care of you and all things yarn out front.


And really, a full-on work weekend is long overdue.  This was my half-hearted plan last weekend, but -- and I certainly can't complain -- it was pre-empted for an afternoon soak at Bagby Hot Springs, and a snowy hike back down to the car, to find this reminder on my back window.

I couldn't agree more.

Featured Yarn :: Arizona Charlie's

Arizona Charlie's

Deep green bamboo, charcoal alpaca, and a rich burgundy merino mix together in this fingering weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 59 bamboo / 27 alpaca / 14 wool-nylon
• Yardage: 420 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sock/Fingering
• Amount on Cone: 5.5 oz
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Diagonal Rib Socks

Also available in our online shop!

Share your thoughts and win a FREE class!

I'm not big on the New Years resolutions, but I do still like to think of January as a month of quiet renewal, and an opportunity to evaluate big picture goals.  Which is why January is when we post our Annual Customer Survey, and ask you to take a minute to share your thoughts with us.


As our dedicated customers, you are our best asset in finding ways we can make Yarnia even better, and the ideas and feedback that we gather from these annual surveys are the #1 tool we use to set our agenda of new projects and developments for the coming year.

Of course, we're always open to hearing suggestions and feedback about the shop, but this week we've come up with some questions to get you thinking specifically about what you love (or don't) about Yarnia.

We appreciate your feedback so much, and want to make it worth your while to take the time to share your ideas with us.  Each person who completes the survey will be given an opportunity to enter a drawing for a FREE CLASS at Yarnia -- your choice of any of our two-hour workshops!

Click Here to Take the Survey 

This survey is specifically geared towards those of you who come shop at Yarnia in-person.  If you are an online customer, keep an eye out for our online shop survey, which will be coming out in the next week or two.  Of course, if you like to shop both ways, you can fill out both surveys for a double chance to win!

FO :: Infinitude Cowl

Wow. If you've been searching for the perfect mid-winter project -- quicker than a scarf and mindless enough to knit while you're sitting in class or at a long meeting -- look no further.  I'm totally in love with this cowl, and will have to restrain myself from mass producing them in every squishy-bulky yarn we have.


I love the versatility of this one, too.  You can rock it as a long, drapey, scarf-like cowl...

Or as a scarf-cowl combo...

Or tripled up for a walk in the gusty wind.

Here's what I just discovered I love about cowls: you don't have to take them off.  I'm so used to arriving at my destination, and peeling off all my layers, which end up slung over the backs of chairs at restaurants or tucked away in corners of the room at a show.  


But a cowl like this acts as a scarf when you want it to, and then can be tugged and adjusted to be a not-so-warm accessory once the hat and gloves come off.  Especially when the yarn itself is as cozy-chic as the California blend that I used to make the Infinitude.

If you want to give some special yarn a time to shine, this is really the way to go.  The alternating knit/purl rounds create wide, heavy ribs that give the cowl that drapey look that's really hip right now, while the initial K3/P2 ribbing that runs perpendicular to these long loops contrasts by showing off the yarn in shimmery little V's.

Infinitude Cowl

380 yards :: bulky weight :: wool/alpaca/rayon/cotton blend (California)

Cost of materials: $31.40

Knit & Crochet Night Resumes!

Hey, all.  This Thursday marks the revival of our monthly Knit & Crochet nights, and we can't wait to see you there!  Now that the holidays are over, it's the time of year to make something for yourself.  

This Thursday, January 19th, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. is our next Knit & Crochet Night here at the shop!

Bring your patterns, projects, ideas, questions, and meet some other crafty peeps in the neighborhood!

Swing on by after work and we'll make a night of it.  We'll be here knitting from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., and will have tea, wine, music, good company, and some little snackies to keep us going!

I know I've got LOTS of projects that I need to get off the needles soon...how about you?

Check out the event on our Facebook page for more info, and to let us know if you're planning on coming!  (RSVP not required, just fun to see ahead of time :))

Coned yarn is about to take on a whole new meaning...

Last month, while doing a little poking around on Ravelry to see who was talking about us, I stumbled upon this post, highlighting a finished weaving project by one of our customers.

Image via knit4fun972 

It's always fun to see our yarn in any finished projects, but this one in particular got me excited, because in the coming weeks, I'm planning on embarking on a brand new fiber hobby (though from what I've heard, this will quickly shift from "hobby" to "obsession"), and learn how to weave.

Image via knit4fun972

I've actually been saying this casually for years now, and have had the lackadaisical intention to do so ever since I realized that yarn on cones can serve another purpose besides keeping your supply in a nice neat little perch beside your chair (something that had never occurred to me during Yarnia's incipient stages).


But recently, I've been noticing this fascinating shift in our customer demographics, wherein throngs of curious and creative knitters are slowly being overtaken by not only crocheters, but weavers.  (I'm uber-curious to learn, when all the results are in, how many respondents to our annual survey identify themselves as weavers!)  And with practically no weaving knowledge, other than how to convert the idea of 16/2 cotton into yards per pound, I feel a little silly being of such little utility to them.  I'm so psyched to discover what it's all about.

Image via knit4fun972 


So, Ruthie's, just a heads up, I'll be calling within the week to schedule my first class!


I am beyond ecstatic that I live in a world where this falls under the category of "professional development."

Featured Yarn :: Luxor

Luxor

A thick plush softball cotton is mixed with rust and orange-colored rayons and cottons in this bulky yarn that will knit up soft and quick!

• Fiber Content: 58 rayon-cotton / 42 cotton
• Yardage: 140 yards
• Yarn Weight: Bulky
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Machine wash/dry OK
• Pattern Suggestions: Jayne Cobb Hat

Also available in our online shop!

New Class! Vertical Ribs Crocheted Hat

Ready to move to the next level with crochet and try out a hat? This simple hat pattern has a non-traditional structure, but is still a beginner-level pattern. Rather than starting at the crown and working your way down to the brim, this hat is worked back and forth in vertical ribs and short rows, to form the shape of the hat.

***Thursday, January 19 (9:00 - 11:00 a.m.)***

JOIN US!

WIP :: Little Flirt Skirt

Here goes Part I of the Great Skirt Binge of 2012.  The day before my trip a few weeks ago, I wound up a whopping two pounds of a gorgeous wool/bamboo/linen/rayon blend, mixing shades of grey, black, and sleek eggplant and olive green.  I'm fantasizing about a warm and wooly pleated skirt that I can wear with my new Frye boots and a cardigan.

This was the ideal project for a long cross-country trip.  After casting on and joining, it's pretty much straight stockinette with just a few decreases, for ever and ever and ever.  


Oh, and did I ever get practice at those first few rows.

The pleats, which are comprised simply of alternating groups of knit and purl stitches, recede slowly into an eyelet lace section, and from thereon out, you are working in straight stockinette for the rest of the skirt, transitioning from larger to smaller needle sizes as you go.

Believe it or not, I'm already in the home stretch!  I had to order new tips for my interchangeable circular set (apparently I've never used size 5 circs on a 24" cable before), but once they arrive I'll be well into the waistband and ready to block (and I can already tell from my photo shoot that this will need a good blocking in order to relax a little)!

Upcoming Class :: Continental Knitting

What's this continental knitting all about? Although it's not the mainstream method of knitting taught in the U.S., it can often be faster, more intuitive, and easier on the hands than English style knitting, or "throwing."


In this class we'll learn how to cast on, the basic knit stitch, and potentially the purl stitch as well, depending on your comfort level.


Both new and experienced knitters are welcome -- this could be a new method to add to your current repertoire of knitting knowledge, or your first foray into the world of knitting!

Saturday, January 7, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
OR
Saturday, January 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Click here to sign up!

Featured Yarn :: Imperial Palace

Imperial Palace

A thick brown cotton mixes with a tweedy silk-wool blend and alpaca in this bulky weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 49 cotton / 22 wool / 17 alpaca / 12 silk
• Yardage: 200 yards
• Yarn Weight: Bulky
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Extra Warm Men's Scarf

Also available in our online shop!

Back in the saddle

Remember last summer when all I could think about was crocheted tank tops?  I feel another thematic knitting binge coming on, this time of the skirt variety.


I found myself in uncharted territory a couple weeks ago when, packing for my Christmas vacation, I got to "knitting project" part on my list and realized that, having finished up all my Christmas presents and a new cowl for myself just in time for the trip, I had absolutely nothing on the needles to bring to work on during the trip itself!  


This brought on a true moment of panic.  Not only did I not have any WIPs to bring along, but after a shocking review of my queue, I realized there wasn't even anything waiting in the wings that I was that excited about.  After 11 years of fervently knitting so I could enjoy that wonderful first 30 minutes of casting on for the next new project I was eager to start, I had never found myself at such a loss before.


Sure, there are a few long term projects that I could make some progress on, like the sleeves to my Ivy Cardigan, or a Pine Forest Baby Blanket sample for the shop, but when I'm about to embark on six days of pure vacation, I want to be ecstatic about the knitting I'm bringing with me.


But in a stroke of luck the next day, I remembered that I just treated myself to a pair of Frye boots, that are just begging to be worn with cute knee-length skirts and knee socks all winter long, and that it has been far too long since I've knitted myself a skirt.

So now with a direction, I did some research on the Rav to find that perfect skirt pattern -- I wanted it to be cute, free, and simple enough that I could knit undistractedly while maintaining conversation, a project versatile enough to work on in front of the TV with the family at night, or while drinking a Spotted Cow in downtown La Crosse during a night on the town.  


And I ended up with 3.


Here were the contenders:

Little Flirt Skirt

Sidewinder

Skating Queen

115-42 (Drops)

121-5 (Drops)

128-19 (Drops)

Which one(s) would you choose?