Knit Happens

Hi all,

Aimée and I will be heading to Columbus, OH next week to attend the TNNA Fall/Winter Show. (We promise to tell Debbie Bliss and the Alchemy gang you all say hi!) Because of this, we just don’t have the coverage to stay open as late as we normally would, so instead of just closing (which would just be unfair), Aimée and I have decided to have Knit Happens open for shorter hours that Friday and Saturday. Our hours will be:

Friday, 6/6 – 10:30-4:30pm
Saturday, 6/7 – 10:30-5pm
Sunday, 6/8 – 12-5pm

Knit ‘n Nosh would normally be that Friday, however, we will be pushing that back to Friday, 6/13. No hazing the employees while we’re gone!

Thanks!

ETA: Please note that our Friday hours have changed. The change is in red. Sorry about the confusion!

After Holly announced that we had gotten in The Fibre Co. Organik, I started thinking of patterns for it right away! You’ve got to come see this yarn in person – photos can’t do justice to the beautiful glowing colors of the dyes.

Our first pattern this week gives you an opportunity to try out the Organik or some of our other great organic yarns. The Neckdown Summer Cardigan from Knitting Pure & Simple is great over a summer top or dress when you need a little extra warmth – air conditioning can get a bit chilly!

Since it’s worked from the top down, you can try it on as you go for a perfect fit – and there are no seams to sew! The pattern fits up to a 48″ bust.

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner – knitting in round, shaping

Recommended Yarns: The Fibre Co. Organik, Lorna’s Laces Green Line DK, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted, Sirdar Calico, Classic Elite Summer Set, Rowan Calmer, RYC Silk Cotton

If you’ve got a cardigan, you need something to wear under it, right?

The Ribbed Openwork Tank from Vermont Fiber Designs is pretty and lacy – just what we want to knit this time of year!

This will knit up quickly in a worsted weight yarn, and the stretchy lace pattern ensures a great fit. The pattern goes from XX-small to 6X.

Difficulty: Intermediate – simple lace, shaping, seaming

Recommended Yarns: Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, Kollage Cornucopia, Kollage Delicious, Schaefer Laurel, RYC Silk Cotton

(photo credits: Knitting Pure & Simple, Vermont Fiber Designs)

I just got off the phone with Westminster Fibers (distributors of Rowan, Regia, etc.) to see if Kim Hargreaves’ new book, Nectar, will be available in the US… and have been told that yes, it will and should start shipping out sometime in July. I am placing one HUGE order for it, trust me! (The question is, do y’all think that we’ll sell through this as quickly as we did Heartfelt?)

It seems that everyone is going green these days – definitely a Good Thing, as Martha would say. Recycling, bringing bags to the grocery store, composting, balancing out flights by purchasing carbon points are things that are on everyone’s mind of late. However, knitters and crocheters have been green for decades now – well before it was the “in” thing to do! There have been patterns out for knitted shopping bags, facecloths, dishcloths for forever… and the yarn companies are listening and are coming out with all types of organic yarn!

In addition to the lovely organic cottons that we currently carry, we are also looking for great organic wools as well. One of our newest lines is from The Fibre Co. – Organik. The Organik is 70% organic merino wool, 15% baby alpaca, and 15% silk worsted weight… which makes 100% lusciousness! (Okay, so that was cheesy, but I couldn’t resist.) Really, though, the Organik is quite soft and the colors are wonderfully saturated. Each ball is 100 yds (50g) and gets 4.5sts/in on a US8 or 9 needle. You must see this yarn in person to fully appreciate how lovely it is… trust me. (Plus, if you love it and take it home, you’ll really be doing my wallet a favor too. I’m just sayin’.)

Don’t forget that tonight is Late Night – we’re open until 9pm… perfect for you to stop in after work and take a quick peek (or two) at the Organik!

We’re bringing in more and more organic and fair trade yarns into the shop – not only are these yarns good for you and the environment, they’re gorgeous too!

We now have the beautiful Pima Cotton and Pima Cotton/Silk from Frog Tree Yarns – this company works with a non-profit cooperative in Bolivia to provide income for local communities. So naturally we picked a pattern for you to try them out with!

We’ve got something for the guys this week – everyone needs a casual summer sweater like the V Neck Down Pullover for Men from Knitting Pure & Simple.

This would be a great first sweater project – it’s knitted in one piece from the top down so you can try it on as you go, and there’s no seaming to do! The pattern fits up to a 54 inch chest with 4 inches of ease.

Knit this up and you (or your favorite guy) will be ready for the beach! (Don’t forget, Father’s Day is coming up soon – you’ve got just enough time to get this done for Dad!)

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner-knitting in round, shaping

Recommended Yarns: Frog Tree Pima Cotton, Frog Tree Pima Cotton/Silk Sublime Organic Cotton, Sublime Soya Cotton, Fibra Natura Cottonwood Organic Cotton, Rowan Purelife Organic Cotton, Rowan Denim, Rowan All Seasons Cotton

Remember the Hand Maiden Sea Silk we got in last week? Well here’s a pattern for it! The pretty Chapel Hill top from Dolce Handknits is great for spring and summer -the pattern fits up to a 49 inch bust.

Difficulty: Intermediate – simple lace, shaping, seaming

Recommended Yarns: Hand Maiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk, Fibra Natura Flax, Katia Linen, Classic Elite Cotton Bamboo

(photo credits: Knitting Pure & Simple, Dolce Handknits)

Do you like to curl up on a rainy day with a cup of tea and a knitting book as much as I do? (If you’re not knitting, reading about knitting is the next best thing!) Some days I’m in the mood for in-depth technical discussions of knitting, and some days I like to look at lovely photography and get ideas for new projects.

If you’re in the mood for the latter, I recommend the new Closely Knit: Handmade Gifts for the Ones You Love by Hannah Fettig. This is a charming book that gives you gift ideas grouped by recipient (mothers, daughters, sisters, men, babies, and friends) and arranges them by complexity and length of time it takes to create each project.

There are over 30 patterns in the book ranging from larger items such as sweaters, blankets, and pillows to small gifts like stuffed animals, picture frames, and baby garments. Each item is photographed beautifully and accompanied by clearly written instructions, including “Quick Fixes” for when you need to finish a gift in a hurry. Techniques are explained for each pattern, and ideas for adding your own extra special touches are included.

Fettig, Hannah. Closely Knit: Handmade Gifts for the Ones You Love, North Light Books, 2008, 144 pp.

(photo credits: North Light Books, Hannah Fettig)

OH the beautiful yarns that we just got in! Not only did we get the gorgeous Studio Sock and Studio Worsted from DC’s own Neighborhood Fiber Co., we have Karida’s amazing handpainted Penthouse Silk Lace too! Just imagine yourself sitting in the garden sipping lemonade as you knit with cool, airy laceweight silk yarn… ahh… (I know right now it’s freezing and rainy, but spring will be back soon!)

We ALSO got the stunning Sea Silk from Canada’s Hand Maiden Fine Yarn. This fingering weight 70% silk 30% Seacell blend is hand dyed in the most beautiful colors imaginable and it’s already flying out of the shop!

So you KNOW I’ve got a pattern or two picked out for you! And you know what to do – come in this week, buy the pattern and materials to make it… and we’ll give you 10% OFF!

Socks are such a great project for warm weather, I just had to pick more this week. The Peak Experience Socks from Fiber Trends are perfect for hand dyed yarns – try a variegated color or make stripes with two solid colors. The pattern includes the lacy Angel’s Rest, sized for women, and the rippled Mt. Hood in a larger unisex size.

Difficulty: Intermediate – lace, knitting in round, sock techniques

Recommended Yarns: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering Weight, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Fleece Artist Merino 2/6, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Watershed, MamaE C*EYE*BER Fiber Merino Tencel, Schaefer Yarn Anne

And what could be more perfect than draping a delicate wisp of silk lace over your shoulders on a summer evening? The Andrea Reversible Lace Scarf from Schaefer Yarn is large enough to make a lovely shawl -the pattern even includes instructions for making it smaller or larger. Why “reversible”? The stitch pattern is arranged to look good on both sides! As versatile as this pattern is, you’ll want to wear this all year!

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner/ Intermediate – simple lace

Recommended Yarns: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Silk Lace 20/2, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Lace, Schaefer Yarn Andrea

(photo credits: Fiber Trends, Schaefer Yarn)

Join Knit Happens and Knit-a-Gogo this Sunday for “Close Knit”, a knitting retreat for mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends!

Gather at Le Pain Quotidien in Old Town Alexandria to enjoy a delicious organic meal at the communal table, then share in the knitting experience with your family and friends as you learn for the first time or improve on your current knitting skills to create a beautiful handmade spring scarf.

The price for this special event includes knitting instruction, supplies and a special Mother’s Day gift for each participant.

Beginners will choose among several unique fibers and learn to create a basic spring scarf.

Intermediate knitters will choose among the “Memorable Women” colorways of Schaefer Yarn’s “Susan” luxury hand-dyed cotton to create the beautiful Undulating Waves scarf. (Color choices shown here.)

Give your own Memorable Woman a gift made with your own hands!

When: Sunday, May 11, 2008 (Mother’s Day) 5:30 – 8:00 PM

Where: Le Pain Quotidien, 701 King St, Alexandria VA

Space is limited. Reserve your space now with a credit card by calling Danielle at 202-669-8282 or emailing danielle@knit-a-gogo.com.

Cost is $55 for beginners, $65 for intermediate (must know how to knit and purl). Price includes knitting instruction, fiber and needles – does not include food. Children over 10 are welcome.

So you fell down at the Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival and when you got up, there was all this yarn in your bag? Have no fear, we’re here to help you find something to make with all those purchases! Come in this week, buy the pattern and materials to make it… and we’ll give you 10% OFF!

“But I already have yarn, that’s the problem!” you say? Don’t worry, you can still save on the pattern and the needles!

I don’t know about you, but I came home from MDSW with a LOT of sock yarn! The Leaf Lace Socks from Fiber Trends would be pretty in a semi-solid or lightly variegated handpainted yarn. Hmm, one of those skeins I bought yesterday would be perfect…

If you DIDN’T get sock yarn at MDSW, we just got in big orders from Mama E’s C*EYE*BER Fiber and Neighborhood Fiber Co. that are GORGEOUS!

Difficulty: Intermediate – lace, knitting in round, sock techniques

Recommended Yarns: Claudia Hand Painted Yarns Fingering Weight, Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Fleece Artist Merino 2/6, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock, Neighborhood Fiber Co. Watershed, MamaE C*EYE*BER Fiber Merino Tencel, Schaefer Yarn Anne

Next up is the One Skein Wonder from Glampyre Knits -this pattern takes less than 200 yards of worsted weight yarn, so it’s perfect for that skein you just had to have! Plus it looks adorable over a skinny T-shirt or a summer dress!

Didn’t pick up any worsted weight at the festival? We’ve got the gorgeous Studio Worsted from Neighborhood Fiber Co. too!

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner – shaping, picking up stitches

Recommended Yarns: Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Worsted, Alchemy Synchronicity, Alchemy Wabi-Sabi, Classic Elite Waterlily, Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Schaefer Yarn Lola

(photo credits: Fiber Trends, Glampyre Knits)

Look at all that loveliness on the table! I know, you’re telling me (through your monitor) that you can’t be tempted with Sheep & Wool this weekend, but Mama E called me the other day to tell me that the order we’ve been waiting for was finally done! Of course I wasn’t going to tell her to hold it until after the weekend… I’m not completely crazy.

On the table is an assortment colors from Mama E in her Merino/Tencel sock yarn. As we give Mama E free rein in picking colors for the shop (she knows us so well by now), we got a ton of new-to-us colors as well as a few older favorites! (No Gregory, though… I must remember to tell her to add that one in on the next order.) If you have not knit with the Merino/Tencel, you must give it a try. It.is.the.gorgeous. Great sheen, lovely stitch definition. I have hidden my wallet from myself so I won’t buy it all and take it home.

On the Sheep & Wool Front

We have finally gotten the handy Yarn Requirement Guides back in stock! (We *heart* Interweave Press – I called them last Friday and they sent them out immediately!) If you fall in love with a yarn at MDS&W and you just don’t have a plan for it, this is the perfect solution. Just match the recommended gauge of the yarn to the bust size you’re knitting for and *voilá* – the perfect amount of yarn!

Remember: we are closing at 5:30pm tomorrow and are closed all of the weekend. If you see us at the Fairgrounds, remember to say hi!