Friday, October 21, 2011

Tea Cozy

Cool, crisp fall days call for a cup of tea, and a tea pot calls for a tea cozy...

This tea cozy was knit using the Churchmouse pattern "Anniversary Tea Cozy" and Berroco Blackstone Tweed held doubled.  I can't wait to enjoy my first cup of tea with my new tea pot :)

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Lucy's Sheep Camp, Dye Lot Yarn, and Atenti Trunk Show November 5th

This is a trunk show not to miss!  There will also be a few other surprises in store, be sure to save the date: Saturday, November 5th 10 am - 5 pm!



Lucy's Sheep Camp Yarn is born and bred in the U.S.A.  I am so proud to bring you this yarn from our neighboring state Wyoming! 

You will experience the wonderful fibers, felted fabric, and other kits available from Lucy's Sheep Camp

About Lucy's Sheep Camp from Miss Billie Jo:

'Welcome to Lucy’s Sheep Camp located in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
My name is Billie Jo Norsworthy and I’m proud to be part of Wyoming’s ranching tradition. My family has been ranching on this land for several generations and we are fortunate to be stewards of beautiful Copper Mountain. This is land that once belonged to Lucy Morrison Moore – “The Sheep Queen of Wyoming.” It’s the spirit of Lucy and the wonder of this majestic land that inspires my dye colors and love of my sheep. May you find the legacy and lore….the creation and color….and the wonder of Wyoming in my work.

I believe that my wools are the finest available. They are hand-dyed primarily using wildflowers as inspiration. I use a combination of
Gay Wool, Cushing's, and natural plant dyes. My sheep are coated
to protect their wool from dirt, weeds, and sun. After shearing,
the fleeces are skirted, then sent to The Shepherd's Mill in
Kansas to be processed.

After the yarn, roving or felt returns to us, I dye everything in the
back room/bathroom/storage room. In the summer months, all of
my dye work is set with the intense Wyoming sun. The dye color
combinations are inspired by my childhood love of wildflowers.

It is my sincere hope that my hand-dyed Wyoming wool products will bring some of Copper Mountain's beauty into your life. From the sheep that graze...to the wildflowers that grace...please Enjoy and Create!'


About Dye Lot Yarn:

"Dyelot Yarn is located in beautiful Santa Fe, New Mexico.  We specialize primarily in yarn packages which contain multiple skeins of yarn that are dyed together to make unique, yet coordinated packages.  All of our packages utilize a variety of high quality fibers like alpaca, silk, merino, and bamboo.

For cooler climates & seasons, we have created a "Stimulus Package" which is a 670yd package that includes six skeins of alpaca, merino, mohair, silk, and even a touch of plain old wool.  This package is available in 14 colorways, 7 semi-solid and 7 very-verigated (which coordinate with our BAM! colorways).

In those warmer climates & seasons, we have our newest package - the "Recovery Package" which is a 1040yd package comprised of 4 skeins of cotton and viscose (two pure, two blends).  This shimmery, vibrant package has been introduced in 4 colorways, and will expand it's color palette in the upcoming season."


Friday, October 14, 2011

New Churhcmouse Yarns Patterns

 


Here are the newest Churchmouse patterns at Stash!  I love using these patterns, they are so well written and the photographs by Jared Flood are amazing!  I'm so excited about knitting these patterns, I've already started on the "Bias Before and After Scarf" (top row middle).  I'm using Pagewood Farms Artesana Lace weight in a beautiful purple.  I can't wait to get this finished and on my neck so I can start the "Shoulder Cozy" (top row on the left)!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

My latest knitting projects include this wrap from the cover of Interweave's premiere magazine "Knit.Wear"

I love knitting cables and this wrap was fun to knit!  The BIG braided cable is a six by six cable and the shaping in done by increases and decreases within the purl sections between the braids.  I'm at the point where I need to graft the edges together, add the ribbing a block the piece.  I need to have about 20 minutes of peace before I tackle the kitchner stitch over 60 stitches.  There is a great tutorial with the pattern on grafting knit and purl stitches. 


Another project I'm doing that I am quite proud of is my first ever toe-up sock.  Socks are not on my priority list of things to knit, but that may change.  I usually do the traditional cuff-down sock, make that a cuff-down booty sock (very short leg).  I remember being amazed at all the parts of a sock and how they knit up and came together the first time I knit a sock.  I have to admit, that awe has fizzled.  I mostly do socks now because I "have" to for a class or a sample.  I asked Kate, who teaches the toe-up sock class at Stash, to show me the cast on used for toe-up magic loop.  After I got the method for the cast on, I decided to continue with the toe, then the foot, then the heel (which was so much fun), then the leg, I still have to finish the cuff, then start the other sock!  Kate insists I should learn two-at-a-time soon, I'm not so sure juggling two balls of sock yarn on a size US1 40" needles is my cup of tea, but we'll see.

forgot my camera at the shop, so I'll put the pic up of said sock soon

So these two projects have been put to the side, only for a day or two, 'cuz I started another project!  Now I'm knitting the Eudora Hat by Dull Roar, which is a slouchy hat with a turn under contrast brim, welt accents, short row shaping and staggered decreases.  I do have to admit the turn under brim was a little of a pain, but once that was done, the rest of the hat is worth it!  I'm using Aslan Trends Baby Llama, and new yarn at Stash, for the main hat and for the contrast a little Manos Silk I had laying around.  I'm finished with the welts, I have not done these before and they were fun.  The pattern walks you though it.  Just pick up the purl stitch a few rows under the row you are knitting and knit the two stitches together.  I just started the short row shaping, this pattern uses a way to short rows that I've not used before, but again the explaination is wonderful.  I'm having so much fun with this hat and all the techniques that are involved in knitting it, I may just have it finished by the end of the night, if I stop posting to the blog and get back to knitting!  As a matter of fact there is so much technique in this one little project, there may be a class in the future :)

 A Hat or Eudora
Contrast turn under brim
again i forgot my camera and the pics above are courtesy of Dull Roar
            my eudora hat                               the wonderful welts
contrast manos silk band

Monday, October 3, 2011

Tiny Owl Knits takes you on a journey of fairy tales and whimsy as you knit patterns like:
 deer antler hat
 fairy castles (these hold hooks and needles!)
 gnome homes (for your DPN's!)
 hopsalot
wear the wild things are

I can't wait to knit up a few of these projects.  Maybe I'll join Max in his forest of wild thing and knit the crown and sweater.  I will certainly have to have a set of fairy castles for my needles, I can't think of a better way to hold them.  And the gnome homes are a must since I've taken up sock knitting.  All patterns are available at Stash.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

New Extended Hours!

I'm excited to announce extended seasonal hours, starting October 3rd
Stash will be open later on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays!

New Hours:

Monday 10 am - 6 pm
Tuesday 10 am - 6 pm
Wednesday 10 am - 6 pm
Thursday 12 Noon - 8 pm
Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Later classes will be offered, as well and knitting and crochet help.  See class schedule here