Featured Yarn :: Golden Nugget

Golden Nugget

A lurex-wrapped wool is combined with alpaca, bamboo, and merino, all in shades of light cream to make this delightful worsted weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 67 wool-lurex / 16 bamboo / 13 alpaca / 4 merino
• Yardage: 170 yards
• Yarn Weight: Worsted
• Amount on Cone: 8 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Hurricane Hat

Also available in our online shop!

Rose City Yarn Crawl Free Pattern :: Division Dream Cowl

Are all psyched and ready for the Rose City Yarn Crawl this weekend??  We're preparing like crazy for the big kickoff at 9am on Thursday morning.  If you don't already know about all the craziness we have in the works, check out today's newsletter, which will give you a comprehensive overview.

But in the meantime, I do want to share with you a sneak preview of the FREE pattern that we'll be offering at Yarnia!

Yep, that's right, every single shop on the crawl is going to be offering a pattern that they've specifically designed for the occasion, free with purchase.  Ours is a dreamy, silky, cozy cowl, knitted out of a special blend of yarn designed just for the Crawl.

Division Dream Cowl

bamboo / merino / silk / polyester blend

260 yards :: sport weight

You don't have to purchase this specific yarn to snag your copy of the pattern, but if you do during the Yarn Crawl weekend, you'll get 10% off the yarn.  Bonus!

Broomstick crochet, where you been all my life?

Wow.  For real?  How am I just hearing about this now, broomstick crochet??  

This all came about because, as interest in our Beginner's Crochet classes has been booming lately, I've gotten more and more requests for "next-step" crochet projects.  You know, once you've mastered the basics -- something a little more interesting.


So I was on the hunt for a lacey scarf, something that would require learning a few new stitches, following a pattern, but yielding something quick and beautiful and rewarding.  


So I'm searching through Ravelry, and this picture catches my eye:

image via Ravelry

What is that, and how did they do it??  I bookmark this pattern, and browse through a few more pages, until I start to see a definite theme in all the patterns I'm tabbing open.  Broomstick crochet??  What on earth is that??


I pick up my current favorite cone of yarn in the store, Gold Spike, and start working through this pattern to find out.

After the first couple rows I get the idea, but clearly my "broomstick," (a size 17 needle) isn't big enough to make my broomstick rows look like anything more than a simple shell stitch.  


BUT, I figure since all we're using this tool for is to get a big enough loop, I figure if I rubber band two of those together...

There we go.  And now I'm hopelessly addicted.

Do y'all want a class on this?  After two short days I'm already almost finished with a gorgeous sample, a polished pattern, and am just about ready to teach one!

Featured Yarn :: Mandalay Bay

Mandalay Bay

White bamboo is paired with a tweedy merino wool and a rich burgundy wool in this fantastic sock yarn.

• Fiber Content: 44 bamboo / 28 wool / 28 merino
• Yardage: 420 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sock/Fingering
• Amount on Cone: 6 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Blackrose Socks

Also available in our online shop!

WIP :: After Dark Robe

This is going to be a long-term project.  In fact, any project that starts, right out of the gate, with 26" of seed stitch, is guaranteed to be a long-term project.

I'm not quite sure where the impetus for this one came from, other than I just wanted to do something different than I've ever done before.  And truthfully, who has ever knitted a robe??

I'm working on the After Dark Robe from Mason Dixon Knitting, in a luscious, cool, drapey blend of bamboo and variegated rayons.

I'm still on the very first step of this, which is a seemingly endless bout of seed stitch (this is where learning how to knit Continental style from the get-go would have been really helpful), but in little one-hour chunks here and there, I'm slowly but surely making progress.  

No doubt, there will be many, many other projects completed in the midst of my trucking along on this one.  But this is why I like to always have multiple (read: 7-10) projects going on at once.  Sometimes you're just in the mood for some good, solid, mindless knitting!

Yarn of the Year 2012 Winner!

Whew, I think it's safe to say that this year's Yarn of the Year Contest definitely had the stiffest competition of any we've hosted before!  So many amazing entries this year, all custom yarn blends, created by YOU all!  

Here's a peek at some of the runners up:

I love the single green strand of merino in this shimmery yarn.

And the luscious combination of lightly variegated bamboo, and matching alpaca in this one.

Though this is very similar to Morgan, one of my favorite house blends, I'd never thought of adding the tweed in here before, and I love it! 

This one is two strands of our harvest-colored variegated bamboo, mixed with some turquoise cotton.  Another combo I would have never thought to mix together, but I love it, especially crocheted.

So many fantastic entries...which one's it gonna be?

I chose this one.  It's totally different than any Yarn of the Year from years past, and there's something about the steely grey bamboo, and all the different complementary colors, that totally works here.  And again, it appears I'm a sucker for a tightly crocheted swatch.

So keep an eye out -- we'll have this one for sale in the store, and in the online shop, in the very near future!

However, I can't let it go unnoticed that one customer submitted this entry.  What an amazing idea, and combination of yarns!  I was super impressed with the time and energy that went into this one.  You guys are awesome!

February Knit & Crochet Night

Hey, all.  Tomorrow (Wednesday) is the next Knit & Crochet night here at the shop, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. 

 

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 helpful to see ahead of time :))

Mark Your Calendars, the Rose City Yarn Crawl is coming up!!

Hi, all. I’ve got some exciting news for you about a super rad event that’s coming up in just a few weeks!

The third annual Portland Yarn Crawl (hence renamed the Rose City Yarn Crawl) will be happening Thursday-Sunday, March 1-4. There are 19 shops participating, and oh wow, it’s going to be quite the weekend.

With each shop you visit, you land yourself another shot at a super fantastic prize basket stuffed with goodies from over 30 sponsors.

Hit up all 19, and you could win the GRAND PRIZE.

Sweet! How do I get involved?

1. Download the Passport from the website and read the instructions for entering to win any of our 20 Prize Baskets.
2. Visit the Map page and create your own set of driving directions to get from shop to shop.
3. Stay in touch, via Facebook, Twitter, and Ravelry. There are trivia contests and fun facts about each shop happening all month leading up to the crawl, and these are the best places to find out everything you need to know about being a Rose City Crawler!

Valentine's Day Doubler!

One of the biggest difference between local businesses and the other guys is that we deeply love our community. And what better holiday than Valentine's Day for us to show some of that love! 


Starting at midnight on February 14th, whatever points you have in your Supportland account will be magically worth double. So if you've been eyeing our ready-to-go kits that are usually 100 points, from midnight to midnight on Feb 14th you can get it for just 50 points on supportland.com. 


While this deal is only good until our inventory runs out, stay tuned to Facebook where we'll be releasing more rewards throughout the day. Check out all the rewards being offered from locally-owned businesses across town at supportland.com and start racking up those points!


Just to clarify: yes, we are still closed on Tuesday, as usual, but you can take advantage of this awesome doubler deal online, and pick up your goods here at the shop anytime within 2 weeks of redeeming your points!

Featured Yarn :: Mirage

Mirage

White bamboo and mohair is paired with very light seafoam green merino wool in this soft and subtle fingering weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 42 bamboo / 27 wool / 18 mohair-viscose / 13 merino
• Yardage: 400 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sock/fingering
• Amount on Cone: 6 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Ginkgo Shoulderette Shawl

Also available in our online shop!

Yarnia's 4th Birthday Party (all the knitty gritty)

Already??  You'd better believe it!  And we're going to be celebrating with the raddest birthday party ever next Friday.  Won't you join us?

We're going to keep it simple and direct you over to our Special Anniversary Website with all the superfine details, but to recap here, come on by next Friday evening, February 10th, for:

• 10% off all pre-made cones in the shop, and 25% off all Bargain Basket cones
• Free raffle prizes from local businesses -- drawings every hour! 
• BONUS punch on your Supportland card
• Yarn-of-the-Year Contest
• Special Anniversary GOLDEN TICKET yarn (see website for details)
• Beer generously provided by Lompoc Brewing, and yummy treats will abound!

RSVP not necessary to attend, but clicking & sharing helps us get the word out and is much appreciated!

Can't wait to celebrate with y'all!  See you next week!

Featured Yarn :: Royal Station

Royal Station

A dark purple bamboo is paired with a rich burgundy wool and a thin purple wool-nylon strand to make this luscious fingering weight yarn.

• Fiber Content: 64 bamboo / 29 wool / 6 nylon
• Yardage: 420 yards
• Yarn Weight: Sock/Fingering
• Amount on Cone: 5 oz.
• Care: Hand wash / lay flat to dry
• Pattern Suggestions: Lacy Baktus

Also available in our online shop!