Knit Happens

Oops, we skipped a week! Oh well, that gave you an extra week to get the great patterns from last time! (Remember, come in to the shop, buy one of the featured patterns and materials to make it, and we’ll give you 10% off.)

This week we’ve got a new yarn to feature and two patterns for quick little projects that are great to make for around the house or as gifts.

While we have a few linen and linen-blend yarns in the shop, we haven’t had a hemp yarn… until now! We now carry Lanaknits Designs’ allhemp6 – a mercerized DK weight yarn with a gorgeous drape and sheen to it. (Come in and see the sample sweater they sent us, it’s beautiful!)

With a new yarn comes new patterns – we’re also carrying several of Lanaknits Designs’ patterns so of course we had to feature one this week! The Shop Til You Drop Bag is a great alternative to using paper or plastic shopping bags – hemp is an eco-friendly renewable resource. The pattern makes 3 different size bags to hold all your shopping (or knitting!)

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner – knitting in round, simple stitch patterns

Recommended Yarns: Lanaknit Designs allhemp6, FibraNatura Flax

Our next pattern would make a nice housewarming gift or a pretty addition for your own home. Fiber Trends’ Bathing Beauties makes 3 different washcloth and soap sack sets using simple lace patterns – these would be great with some handmade soap from your local farmer’s market!

Difficulty: Intermediate – provisional cast-on, knitting in round, lace

Recommended Yarns: Rowan 4-Ply Cotton

(photo credits: Lanaknits Designs, Fiber Trends)

Can you believe that tomorrow is already July 1st?? Is it just me or does it seem like this summer is FLYING by?

This Friday is Independence Day – it’s also the first Friday of the month. We will be closed Friday so that we can all enjoy the picnics and fireworks and reopen at 10:30am on Saturday. Knit ‘n Nosh is going to be postponed to the next Friday – July 11th.

Have a happy and safe 4th!

“What’s that?” you ask… Why, click on the picture and take a closer look. Still can’t see ‘em? Then take a look to the lower right. That’s right, Stitch & Pitch is coming to DC! (Okay, so most of y’all knew before I ever blogged about it… however, we just got our tickets!) We’ve only got 21 5 tickets left, so snap them up soon!

What a perfect way to spend a summer evening – knitting with some friends (or like-minded strangers), watching a baseball game (with no one to bother you about the knitting in public), drinking a beer (or beverage of your choice, natch) and having unhealthy stadium food – or the fab food that Nationals Park provides. (Can we say Ben’s Chili Bowl, anyone??? YUM.)

Tickets are only $13 – a heck of a deal. Also, the shop will be closing at 5:30pm that day so we can head on out to the game as well. Have non-knitters/non-crocheters who might want to learn? Well Danielle and Kel will be teaching knitters (in A/C, no less!) the basics – and I know that they’re working on getting a crocheter involved too! Know a spinner who’d like to go? Bring ‘em along! The more the merrier, I say! See you there!

OK, it’s officially HOT. It is, in fact, far too hot to wear clothes that do not have extra ventilation. Fortunately we are knitters, and can make clothes that not only have air conditioning built in, but look pretty at the same time!

Our first pattern this week is Nob Hill from Dolce Handknits. This top has just enough lace to keep you cool and fresh even in a DC summer! Dress it up with a linen suit or dress down over jeans or an airy skirt. The pattern fits up to a 48″ bust.

Difficulty: Intermediate – shaping, lace, seaming

Recommended Yarns: (fingering weight) Hand Maiden Sea Silk, Regia Silk, Rowan 4-Ply Cotton, RYC Cashcotton 4-Ply

Next up in cool knits is the Joie de Vivre Shawl and Shell from Y2Knit – that’s right, you get two patterns in one! This makes a nice alternative to a twinset or jacket and shell.

Both pieces feature a pretty lace pattern – the shawl has neck shaping to help it stay on your shoulders and the shell has figure flattering waist shaping. The pattern fits up to a 50″ bust.

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner: knitting in the round, simple lace

Recommended Yarns: Frog Tree Pima Cotton, Frog Tree Pima Silk, Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, Schaefer Laurel, Classic Elite Sundance, RYC Silk Cotton, Jade Sapphire Daisany Silk Boucle

(photo credits: Dolce Handknits, Y2Knit)

It’s summer! Flowers are in bloom (and wilting in the 95-degree heat!) Stay inside where it’s cool and knit or crochet yourself some flowers that you don’t have to water!

Our first pattern this week is the ever-popular Flower Basket Shawl & Scarf – originally published in Interweave Knits, this pattern is now available from Fiber Trends. This makes a great first lace project and can be worked up in anything from a laceweight to a DK weight yarn. (Lace makes great summer knitting!)

Difficulty: Intermediate – lace

Recommended Yarns: Neighborhood Fiber Co. Penthouse Silk Lace, Loft, Maisonette, Studio Sock, Watershed, or Studio Sport; Handmaiden Sea Silk; Schaefer Andrea or Anne; Misti Alpaca Lace or Hand Painted Sock, Alchemy Haiku or Silk Purse; Rowan Kidsilk Haze

Next up we’ve got a whole garden of adorable Kids’ Flower Caps to crochet or knit for newborns and toddlers in sport weight or worsted weight yarn! These are a great baby gift and quick to make!

Difficulty: Advanced Beginner- knitting in round

Recommended Yarns: Frog Tree Pima Cotton or Pima Silk; Rowan All Seasons Cotton

(photo credits: Fiber Trends, Ann Norling)

Yes, I’m still at TNNA, but I just found out that there are Stitch ‘n Pitch tickets still available… So, starting next week, we will have tickets for sale! This will be a great way to go as a group, as all the tickets are in the same section.

Doesn’t knitting, friends, eating hotdogs, drinking beer, and watching a good ball game sound like a plan?

We just got in a TON of new patterns (at least it felt like a ton when we were unpacking them) so there’s even more for us to choose from for Pattern of the Week! This week we’ve got you covered from top to toe… or should I say we’ve got you Capped?

This pattern from Y2Knit features a leaf and rib center panel and flattering shaping to create a pretty summer top. The instructions cover everything you need to know from how to read a chart to seaming and finishing! The pattern fits up to a 48″ bust.

Difficulty: Intermediate – charted stitch pattern, shaping, seaming

Recommended Yarns: Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, Fibre Co. Organik, Schaefer Laurel, RYC Silk Cotton, Rowan All Seasons Cotton

For your toes we’ve got the Lupine Lace Socks from Fiber Trends. You know we love socks and lace, so when this pattern came in, we couldn’t resist! The scalloped border and pretty flower pattern would look lovely in a solid or semi-solid colorway. The pattern comes in two sizes so you can get the perfect fit.

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

Come in this week, buy one of these patterns and materials to make it… and we’ll give you 10% OFF!

(photo credits: Y2Knit, Fiber Trends)