Knit, Blog & Be Happy!

Over the last couple of weeks I have been singing the praises of TKB Cords to visitors in the shop.  Honestly people, these are a game changer for all knitters.     What are they? TKB (The Knitting Barber) cords are hollow silicone cables that can be used to hold stitches. Each set has three cables, one 60 inch (152cm) and two 30 inch (76cm), and comes in a handy storage tin. They work on needles up to a US 9 (5.5mm).  How do you use them?  All you do is pinch the end of the cable and place it snuggly on...

Bonjour La Bien Aimee!  We are so pleased to have these lovely yarns in our shop. Aimee, a Kansas native, moved to Paris and opened her lovely knitting and tea shop, L’OisiveThé.  A number of years ago she started to dye her own yarns and the wonderful La Bien Aimée was born.  Makers from all over have since been in love with her soft bases and stunning colors. We are carrying three bases in the shop, Merino Singles, Merino Sport and Merino Dk. Come into the shop for a burst of color and inspiration! This week I am sharing some pattern ideas for their fingering weight...

In my blog post, Knit Your First Sweater, I mention that many people do not like to knit sweaters because they have trouble with fit. Knitting a sweater from top down, as most patterns are designed these days, gives the you the opportunity to ensure the pattern will fit because it can be tried it on as you knit.   My Cargill Sweater is the perfect example of how important it is to stop and try on a sweater.  I knew that trying the sweater on was going to be part of the knitting process for this project because I was in between sizes. I knit the smaller...

Rebecca Clow's Cargill Sweater is simply lovely. As I mentioned in the newsletter, I watched the @purlificknitter's progress on the sweater as she test knit the piece. Her first post was a simple photograph of the yoke and I was hooked.  The stitch pattern, color and yarn captivated me instantly.  I watched as Camay finished and modeled the sweater, waiting for its release.  Late last week Rebecca published the pattern. Koryn, Teri and I spent Saturday morning looking at yarn combinations and colors.  We chose Cashmere Treats Cashmere Merino Luxe as the base yarn and, depending on the color, either Rowan Kidsilk...

So many knitters are afraid to take on sweater knitting.  We often hear, "it is too difficult" while they sit working on their 15th pair of socks and, let's face it, there is nothing simple about turning a heel or the Kitchener stitch. Or "that is way too much knitting for me" as we wind the third skein of fingering weight yarn to make an enormous 1000-yard shawl. The final protest is "I have tried but they never fit well". I fully admit, that is a valid reason, indeed.  Like anything, the first (or third) try may not be perfect. So that sweater will...