lost in transport

Nearly lost - one box of yarn from Kertzer finally arrived 5 weeks later, with this new yarn:

Trenton Worsted - A new superwash merino yarn that works up to a worsted weight. Warm, washable and soft, this is the perfect yarn for hats, sweaters, mitts and blankets. The variegated colours make it fun to knit with as well. Retails for $9.95 for the 100g skein, which has 200 metres.

free pattern: Nimbus Jacket

This is a free pattern from the Estelle website. Never been there? Go to our pattern page and find the links to most of our supplier's free pattern pages there.

Alison knit this Nimbus Jacket in Drops Eskimo. The smallest size (32" chest") took 9 50g balls. We have copies of the pattern in the store in case you don't find it online. Or just email us for help. It's a great little cover up for spring dresses or for cool summer knits. It could also be knit out of Drops Ice (cotton), Quick by Marks & Kattens or other bulky yarns.

As you can see on the sign: April's Yarn of the Month with a 20% discount is - Eskimo!

Anna

This is Anna, Max' girl friend, and we wished she would visit us more often, not only to model for our garments...

You remember that I mentioned this sweater in an earlier blog: It is the cover sweater from Norah Gaughan's Collection Volume 4. There are several other Summer projects in this volume as well, which you may order from us for $19.75. It's knit in Pure Pima which retails for $6.25 for the 50g skein with 115 yards. Check the shade card!

Here is the front ornament, click on picture to enlarge!

Pam knitted this capelet (or shrug or little cardi), which is also featured in our pattern page. It's called Anthropologie and Pam's pattern version is inspired by the numerous versions doing the rounds on the Internet. It can be knitted in various yarns, all available in our store. This one was done in Schulana Fashion Silk.

Cute Cupcake!

Alison knit this adorable little sweater in Peter Pan Cupcake. She calls it a quick, fun knit, and the yarn a joy to work with. The design ranges in size from 18 to 25 inches (approximately 6 months to 4 years) and requires 3 to 5 balls of Peter Pan Cupcake yarn.

The featured design is Peter Pan pattern P1043 which is available in our store ($4.25).

Indulge your feet!

New from Lang Yarns:

Jawoll Silk - Add a touch of luxury to your next pairs of socks! A blend of 20% silk added to the superwash wool and nylon blend of this sock yarn makes it extra enticing. Great colour effects make for a great looking as well. The 100g ball sells for $17.95, and is enough to make an average pair of adult socks. Check the shade card!
A small spool of reinforcement thread makes it easy to strengthen heels and toes as well (included).

Inge's Prayer Shawl

I wrote about our Prayer Shawl experience in our last Newsletter:

Inge was inspired to knit this filigrane white prayer shawl, when our youngest son was heading off to his four month trip through South America and started a month ago in Venezuela, a place which would scare all parents. He made it safely through to Ecuador so far.

The pattern is from the book "The Prayer Shawl Companion" and Inge wanted to add that she used a mix of Drops Symphony, some Gedifra Amara, some white ribbon yarn leftover and white Funny yarn.

Affordable Baby yarn - great toddler patterns

I was so sure that I had already shared this great pattern book "just for tots" for our best buy baby yarn Comfort DK (from Berroco, just $3.95 for the 50g ball!) - but I couldn't find a posting. So here it is, with the front cover to the left and the same garment of the front cover in our store.

This is what Alison wrote: As always, baby and children's knits are a favourite at our store. Caleb is a toddler's pullover made from Berroco's Comfort DK. This great little design ranges in size from 9 months to 6 years. Side neck buttons make it easy to get over the little heads, and the easy-care blend of the yarn makes it washer friendly. Featured in Berroco book #274, it requires between 4 and 6 balls of yarn (that is only Canadian $16-$24).

Great new books, have a peek!

Together with our Spring/Summer yarns we ordered a large number of pattern bookletts for this season of the year, which you will all find in our book page now!

I would like to point out two very unique books here:

Knit One Below - by Elise Duvekot
The bright idea behind this book with 35 patterns for the entire family is to build an entire collection around one simple stitch that creates many intriguing effects. Shown in knitting instructions as "k1b" (knit 1 below), the technique involves knitting into the stitch one row below the stitch on the needle with either a knit or a purl stitch. The result is an easy-to-knit fabric with wonderful drape and flexibility that looks equally good on both sides. The color effects possible are also impressive. Use the technique for sweaters, cardigans, bags and even socks!

This book with 35 patterns for the entire family costs only $23.95.

Socks a la Carte - by Jonelle Raffino and Katherine Cade
This innovative book allows you to customize your sock pattern, using the cuff, body and heel/toe techniques of your choice. Over a dozen of choices (on split pages) for each part of your sock makes the design possibilities nearly unlimited!
Readers can flip these split pages to see how the individual elements work together and then mix and match these patterns to create unique sock styles that they can then knit according to their personal preferences. A bonus gallery will feature a number of finished sock styles in a variety of colors as inspiration for the reader. Price: $25.50.

Possum!? Awesome!

It's April 1st today, but this is true!

Rimu from Zealana Yarns - Our friends at Nordic Yarn Imports bring us this lovely DK blend of Merino and Possum wool from New Zealand. Yes, you heard right. Possum fibre is well-known for its unique qualities of softness, lightness and warmth. The addition of merino wool adds to these qualities, creating a yarn that's beautiful to the eye and touch. It's also durable, machine washable, and resists pilling. Learn more in our shade card with some more information on possums, which are considered a pest in New Zealand.

Rimu has 140 yds in the 50g ball and retails for $12.95.