Knit, Blog & Be Happy!

Have you ever blocked a multi-colored project and had the colors run? I have, and let me tell you, it is so disappointing. Before I owned the store, I knit a beautiful shawl with a mix of charcoal grey, deep plum, and natural color yarn. It took me ages to knit, and I loved it. I popped it into the Eucalan and lukewarm water bath and left it to soak for 30 minutes.  I was met with a big, muddy-looking mess when I returned to the sink.  I tried to rinse it out, but the damage was done, and I,...

We're on a roll with sharing staff project bags. So much fun!  This week we have Jenn, our behind the scenes Monarch online web wrangler, here to share her current project and what she has lined up next. What's in your bag, on your needles and in your queue, Jenn? I have the wonderful advantage of getting sneak peeks of projects for future newsletters and when Ann shared that she was knitting a Sophie Shawl in mYak Baby Yak Lace, I knew I needed one, too!  It's my first time knitting with this yarn and wow–it is exquisite! So light and airy. I'm knitting...

Who is next in our "What's in the Project Bag" series? Koryn! Let's peek at the two projects she is working on and some of her favorite notions. So Koryn, what are you working on right now?? I am working on a sample for the shop in a new yarn, North Baby Fibers Elemental Fingering, which is hitting our shelves today and will be online next week. Tif Neilan's Sunkissed Stripes has been a great summer project with its bright colors and light gauge. (We will have kits coming in next week's newsletter!) Of course, my other project is for our #MKSummerTeeAlong! I am...

In the future, we hope to start using our Raverly group more, and a Knit Along is a great place to put it to work for us at the shop and for all of you, our knitting and crocheting friends. Whether you are a local or from further afield, our Ravlery Forums are the perfect place to stay connected to other crafters, especially when participating in a make-along. With that in mind, we thought it might be a good idea to give you all a bit of information about following the Forum under our Ravelry group for the Tee-Along.  First off, we have a monarchknitting group...

For our next installment of What's in the Project Bag?, Erin pops open her lovely Artifact Project Tote and gives us a peek at her current set up as well as projects.  Erin, what's in your project bag? Right now I’m working on a sample for the shop in Blue Sky Fibers Woolstok. The Pacific Coast Highway beanie from Nancy Bates' Knitting California book is such a fun pattern and a great way to refresh my colorwork skills. We even have the tiny little blue car buttons to drive down the Highway 1! The other mini-project is a little bright fuchsia demonstration swatch I use while...